MAL 32:19 MAL32 | Page 38

CORPORATE SCENE CPF Group Chief Executive Officer Hosea Kili, OGW Discusses CPF’S Array Of Trust Fund Services By Marketing Africa Crew O ver time, the need for trust funds has become increasingly popular and in demand occasioned by the unfortunate occurrence of death or other events that might arise. While the concept of Trust Funds is not new, trust funds are great vehicles that ensure the purpose for which assets were set is met and can take up any form of assets such as real estate, livestock, cash, stocks, pension and other valuables bequeathed to a minor as is declared in a formal will. otherwise, it would be best to ensure that the funds are distributed according to the wishes of the deceased. With regard to pension schemes, the nomination of beneficiary forms act as a guide for use by the trustees as pension funds do not form part of the estate of the deceased. Trustees of pension funds, therefore, have a fiduciary responsibility of ensuring that the funds they hold in trust are well utilized in accordance with their mandates as set out in the scheme trust deed and rules. Marketing Africa sat down with CPF Group Chief Executive Officer Mr. Hosea Kili, OGW as we sought to better understand trust funds and their role in the economy. Although trustees have discretionary rights on how to have the funds distributed especially where the deceased may have omitted some dependents knowingly or CPF has set up the first registered trust in Kenya. Dubbed “CPF Imara” the CPF Trust Fund is registered under Cap 164 of the Laws of Kenya vide Certificate Registration No. CF.310590 to administer both private/individual and corporate trusts in addition to the welfare/ benevolent funds. Marketing Africa: What is a Trust Fund and why did you find it important to set up CPF Imara? Hosea Kili: A trust is a legal arrangement whereby a person or an entity (known A trust is a legal arrangement whereby a person or an entity (known as a trust- ee) holds assets in trust not for their own benefit, but for the benefit of nom- inated beneficiaries. The trust provides for the safe and accountable manage- ment of assets in accordance with the settlor’s wishes, goals and objectives. 36 MAL32/19 ISSUE as a trustee) holds assets in trust not for their own benefit, but for the benefit of nominated beneficiaries. The trust provides for the safe and accountable management of assets in accordance with the settlor’s wishes, goals and objectives. The concept of a trust is not a new one. In fact, trusts were conceptualized centuries ago in kingdoms and monarchies. In cases where minors were primed to inherit the throne, a regent (who is a person appointed to administer a state because the monarch is a minor) would be appointed. The issue would arise if the relatives would disagree on the regent, thereby inviting disagreements among families and some relatives would even use such chances for their selfish gain. In this particular context, minors would not be allowed to rule the kingdom until they came of age. They were presumed to be incapable of making sound decisions including when to go to war, how to solve disputes, bring about justice and otherwise choices expected of a king. That is still the same today. Children are practically incapable of making choices on how to use money and other forms of assets left for them by their parents or guardians. We at CPF, guided by the Board of Trustees, decided to set up the Trust Fund out of the need to ensure that beneficiaries, left behind by our members, were not left in the dark once their sponsors passed on. Moreover, the issue of poor estate planning has grown in prominence over the years. Numerous estate owners have