Absa Bank Kenya has reinforced its leadership team with the strategic appointment of four accomplished women to key executive roles, demonstrably advancing gender parity within its senior ranks to over 47%.
Mwihaki Wachira now leads marketing; Elizabeth Munga heads Strategy; Sophia Abdi Hassan assumes the position of Country Treasurer; and Anne Nyongesa has been appointed Company Secretary.
These appointments underscore Absa’s resolute commitment to fostering inclusive leadership and reflect a deliberate emphasis on achieving gender balance at the highest levels of the organization.
Abdi Mohamed, CEO & Managing Director of Absa Bank Kenya, affirmed this commitment, stating, “At Absa, we are intentional about fostering a workplace where talent thrives, innovation flourishes, and a leadership that reflects the communities we serve. These appointments reaffirm our commitment to inclusive leadership.”
Mwihaki Wachira Appointed Head of Marketing
Mwihaki Wachira, a distinguished marketing and communications leader with over fifteen years of extensive experience spanning the banking, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and social marketing sectors, brings a celebrated track record of visionary leadership and innovative strategies.
Her expertise has consistently driven significant brand growth, exceptional corporate communication, and impactful marketing campaigns across East Africa.
Notably, as Group Head of Marketing & Communications at I&M Bank Ltd (2022–2025), she spearheaded transformative initiatives resulting in a remarkable 29% increase in brand awareness and led award-winning campaigns, including the bank’s 50th-anniversary celebrations across multiple East African markets.
Her tenure was marked by cultivating a high-performance team culture and effectively tailoring marketing strategies to resonate with diverse local audiences.
Prior to this, at Haco Industries Kenya Limited (2018–2021), as Head of Marketing, she successfully guided her team to achieve ambitious sales targets through innovative consumer engagement strategies.
Earlier in her career at KCB Bank Group (2011–2017), as Innovations Lead and Acting Marketing Manager, she was pivotal in developing solutions to expand market penetration and enhance brand visibility, adeptly managing substantial budgets and directing impactful campaigns.
Mwihaki’s foundational experience at Population Services International and KCB Bank Group honed her expertise in social marketing, product development, and brand positioning.
Her exceptional contributions have been recognized with the prestigious Marketer of the Year award (2024) by the Marketing Society of Kenya and the Employee of the Year award (2013) by KCB Bank Kenya Limited.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing (Upper Second Class Honours) and a Master’s Degree in Communication, complemented by an Executive Leadership Program from Strathmore Business School & Gordon Institute of Business Science (2016).
Elizabeth Munga Named Head of Strategy
Elizabeth Munga is a highly accomplished strategic leader now serving as the Head of Strategy at Absa Bank Kenya.
With extensive experience in driving organizational growth, she plays a crucial role in developing and executing the bank’s long-term strategic agenda, ensuring close alignment with its core business priorities.
In her current role (2025), Elizabeth is entrusted with coordinating the implementation of Absa Bank Kenya’s growth strategies, ensuring that the bank’s diverse operations and strategic initiatives are cohesively aligned with its overarching objectives, thereby fostering sustainable growth and driving innovation throughout the organization.
Sophia Abdi Hassan Appointed Country Treasurer
Sophia Abdi Hassan is a distinguished financial expert and the newly appointed country treasurer at Absa Bank Kenya.
In this role, she is responsible for overseeing all treasury operations and managing financial risk, ensuring the bank’s financial resilience and sustainability within a dynamic economic environment.
Anne Nyongesa Becomes Company Secretary
Anne Nyongesa is a seasoned legal and governance expert who assumed the position of company secretary at Absa Bank Kenya, effective February 28, 2025.
Her extensive experience in governance and company secretarial matters ensures that Absa maintains the highest standards of corporate governance and diligently adheres to all regulatory compliance requirements.
Her appointment followed the departure of Wilson Murage. Prior to joining Absa, Anne held a significant leadership role at KCB Bank Group (2022–2025) as Head of Counsel, Governance, and Shared Services.
Her professional journey includes serving as assistant company secretary at Britam (2019–2021) and as legal manager at Consolidated Bank of Kenya (2016–2019), as well as earlier roles within the KCB Bank Group.
Anne holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from the University of South Africa and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Nairobi. She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a certified public secretary (Kenya), holding a practicing certificate as a company secretary.
