Author: Lorine Otamo

Absa Bank Kenya has named Diana Mwaniki as Acting Chief Financial Officer, effective 1 July 2026 and subject to regulatory approval. She takes over from Yusuf Omari, who steps into the role of Interim Managing Director and CEO following Abdi Mohamed’s resignation. Mwaniki joined Absa in September 2022 as Head of Financial Decision Support. She brings more than 17 years of experience in financial services, with a career built around financial strategy, performance management, governance, internal controls and risk management. A Vote of Confidence from Leadership Omari praised Mwaniki’s track record at the bank, saying she has strengthened financial planning…

The Nairobi Securities Exchange has a new chairman. The bourse’s board confirmed on 2 July 2026 that Tom Mulwa will take over the top governance seat effective 13 July, succeeding Kiprono Kittony, whose six year tenure ends the day before. The transition follows what the board called a routine process: the conclusion of Kittony’s term and a scheduled review of board composition, framed around the exchange’s commitment to strong governance, independence and long term oversight. Directors approved the appointment on 30 June, and the notice went out to shareholders and the public two days later. Who Is Tom Mulwa Mulwa…

Construction crews began work on Kenya’s Ksh 700 billion Naivasha to Kisumu to Malaba railway extension in Narok County on 1 July 2026, marking the physical start of a project that spent more than six years stalled for lack of financing. Kenya Railways awarded the contract to a pairing of Chinese state firms, China Communications Construction Company and China Road and Bridge Corporation. Narok County carries roughly 100 kilometres of the route, making it the entry point for a corridor that will eventually stretch across nine counties to the Ugandan border. Today is truly a great day for Kenya Railways…

Two of East Africa’s most prominent companies reshuffled their financial leadership on the same day. Risper Ohaga ended her tenure as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director at East African Breweries PLC on 30 June 2026, and Justin Mollel stepped into the role effective 1 July 2026. APA Apollo Group named Risper as its next Group Chief Executive Officer, a move that signals how keenly the insurance sector has been watching one of EABL’s most accomplished finance leaders. Justin Mollel: The Man Who Takes the Chair Mollel’s appointment as Executive Director and Group CFO at EABL completes a promotion that…

Absa Bank Kenya has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Gen Z Connect by Executive Connect, pairing one of Kenya’s largest commercial banks with a fast growing youth network to put financial skills and business opportunities directly in front of young Kenyans. The MoU was signed at an Executive Connect Leadership Forum in Nairobi. It runs for one year and sits within Absa’s NextGen offering under its Consumer Banking business, a product line the bank built specifically for young professionals and entrepreneurs. What the Partnership Actually Delivers The core commitment is a series of monthly sessions, co-created by both organisations,…

Diageo has appointed John Musunga as Managing Director, Africa, effective 1 July 2026. The move reinforces the company’s long term commitment to the continent as a strategic growth market. Musunga steps into the role after a career spanning more than 25 years across Africa, Europe and Asia, including nearly two decades in chief executive and senior leadership positions within and outside Diageo. He has built a track record for driving business transformation, accelerating growth and leading high performing teams in complex operating environments. A Career Built Across Diageo’s African Markets Most recently, Musunga served as Managing Director for Diageo’s South,…