Absa Bank Kenya PLC

Absa Bank Kenya PLC is part of Absa Group Limited, an African financial services group that aims to be the pride of the continent. Absa Group Limited is listed on the JSE in South Africa and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups with a presence in 12 countries across the continent and around 42, 000 employees.

We’re committed to finding local solutions to uniquely local challenges and everything we do is focused on adding value. To this end, we offer our clients a range of retail, business, corporate and investment, and wealth management solutions. We also ensure a positive impact in all the countries where we operate.

We’re part of a truly African brand, inspired by the people we serve and determined to make our continent proud.

About Absa Group

Our leaders

  • Country Management Committee

    Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director - Abdi Mohamed

    Abdi Mohamed is the CEO and Managing Director of Absa Kenya Absa Bank Kenya Plc, effective from 1 May 2023. Abdi is a Kenyan with over twenty-eight (28) years of experience in the financial sector and has held various executive positions within Absa Group.

    Prior to his appointment to Absa Bank Kenya, he was the Managing Director of Absa Bank Tanzania and acting Managing Executive for Retail and Business Banking, Africa Regional Operations, Absa- a role that spans multiple geographies where Absa operates within Africa.

    He has also previously served as Chief Operating Officer for the Bank in Kenya.

    Other roles he has held within the organization include Retail & Business Banking Director in Kenya and Zambia and Operations Efficiency Manager, Barclays Global Retail & Commercial Banking, London.

    Abdi Mohamed holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) - Kenyatta University, Masters Business Administration (MBA) – Edith Cowan University and an Advanced Management Programme (IMD Business School – Switzerland).

     

    Chief Finance Officer - Yusuf Omari

    Mr. Omari joined Absa Bank Kenya PLC in 2004 from Audit Firm, KPMG (1998- 2004). He previously worked as the Head of Internal Audit East and West Africa cluster (2004- 2008) and then as Head of Compliance (2008-2009) before his appointment as the Chief Financial Officer in 2009.

    He is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Yusuf is also a Board Member for The University of Nairobi Enterprise Services and ICPAK.

    He is a qualified Certified Public Accountant (CPA) as well as a Certified Internal Auditor. He holds an MBA from Strathmore Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi.

     

    Consumer Banking Director - Moses Muthui

    Moses is the Consumer Banking Director at Absa Bank Kenya. He has expansive experience in professional banking in the areas of Finance, Treasury, Investment Banking, Strategy, and Investor Relations divisions. He has worked in senior roles over the last 10 years in London, Wall Street - New York and Kenya.

    Moses holds an MBA from the University of Nairobi, MSc. in Finance from the London School of Economics, a B.A in Economics and Mathematics from Egerton University Kenya, a certified accountant with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of the United Kingdom, Certified Public Accountant Kenya (CPA, K) and a licenced Investment Banker (FINRA U.S).

     

    Chief Risk Officer - Chiera Waithaka

    Chiera joined Absa Bank Kenya PLC in 2017 as the Chief Risk officer. Chiera has over 20 years’ experience in risk management and has held senior management roles with the Standard Bank Group Regional Office, East Africa, Stanbic Bank Kenya and Barclays Bank.

    Chiera holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) – Strategy and Finance from Warwick Business School, Bachelor of Law Degree from University of Nairobi, and an Associate Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Bankers, He is also a Certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM) by the Global Association of Risk Professionals.

     

    Country Credit Director - Christine Mwai-Marandu

    Christine has over 20 years of experience in Credit Risk working for Absa Bank Kenya PLC and has served in various capacities within the Group including in UK, South Africa, and Tanzania. She is the Country Credit Director where she is responsible for Credit, Country and Sovereign risk and the end-to-end credit life cycle for all borrowing clients in Retail and Business Banking, Corporate & Investment Bank and Markets (Sales and Trading).  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Services and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management, UK. She also holds an Advanced Management Program qualification from Strathmore Business School, an Associate of Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) qualification and is a certified Executive Coach.

     

    Director, People and Culture - Mumbi Kahindo

    Mumbi is a seasoned HR practitioner and coach with over 20 years’ experience, half of which have been in leadership positions. Mumbi previously worked with Deloitte for 10 years in various disciplines of human capital based in Kenya and New York. More recently, and over the last 8 years, Mumbi has held various HR leadership roles within Absa Group, initially with Absa Bank Kenya PLC as a senior HR Business Partner and Head of Leadership, Learning & Talent, and most recently as the Head of Leadership and Learning for Absa Regional Operations covering 10 markets outside South Africa.

     

    Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking  - James Agin

    James began his banking career in Absa Bank Kenya PLC in 1993 and undertook various roles in both Corporate and Treasury before moving to Barclays Uganda as Corporate Director in 2004. He later joined Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Uganda as the Managing Director in 2008 and moved back to Kenya in 2010 as the Chief Business Officer for the East Africa region and later as Corporate Banking Director. James has 10 years of Board experience and has served in the Boards of Barclays Uganda and the KCB subsidiaries.

    He holds an Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School, an MBA from the IESE Business School in Spain and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nairobi.

     

    Legal and Compliance Director - Ken Kanyarati

    Ken Kanyarati was appointed effective 15 November 2021. Prior to his appointment Ken worked with the Standard Bank where he held several senior roles in the organization including, Regional Compliance Executive (Eastern Region), Head of compliance & Legal and Head of Compliance and Money Laundering Control. Ken holds a Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB) from the University of Nairobi, Diploma from the Kenya School of Law, a Certificate of Proficiency for the Trustee Development Program from the College of Insurance. He is also a Certified Compliance Professional by the International Academy of Business and Financial Management and is a Certified member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). He is also the Vice Chairman if the Compliance Society of Kenya

     

    Acting Chief Operating Officer - Ruth Kamengere

    Ruth is currently the acting Chief Operating Officer at Absa Bank Kenya PLC and prior to her appointment she was the Head of Financial Crime Operations and Controls

    Ruth has vast experience having served Absa Bank diligently in various capacities spanning from Branch Operations, Procurement & Supplies, Business Continuity Management, Payments, Governance, Controls, Information Risk Management and Financial Crime Control in Absa Bank Kenya. She rolled out Operational Risk Management (ORM) in Absa Tanzania and carried out audits to test embedment of the ORM framework in Botswana and Ghana.  She has a track record of developing strategies and creating new functions from inception with successful results. She was instrumental in driving the inception of a fit-for-purpose operational framework on Financial Crime Control Function achieving separation of first and second lines of defense in adherence to Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF).

    Ruth holds a Masters Degree in Sociology - Disaster Management from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Psychology Degree in Counselling from the same university. She has also undertaken the Board Competence Director’s Course offered by the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) in Collaboration with Centre of Corporate Governance and is a Member of the Business Continuity Institute UK (MBCI).

     

  • Board of Directors

    Charles Muchene - Board Chairman
    • Appointed to Board: August 2016
    • Appointed Chairman: October 2016
    • Committee membership: Corporate Governance Nominations & Remuneration Committee & Strategy Committee
    • External Directorships: AIG Kenya Limited
    Previous roles
    • Chairman and Non-Executive Director, East African Breweries Limited
    • Independent Non-Executive Director, CfC Stanbic Holdings Limited
    • Country Senior Partner and Financial Service Industry Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers
    Qualifications
    • Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), University of Nairobi
    • Fellow, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya
    • Member, Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya
    • Member, Institute of Directors

     

    Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director - Abdi Mohamed
    • Appointed MD and CEO on 1 May 2023
    Previous roles
    • Managing Director of Absa Bank Tanzania 
    • AG Managing Executive for Retail and Business Banking Africa Regional Operations - Absa - a role that spans multiple geographies where Absa operates within Africa.
    • Chief Operating Officer – Absa Bank Kenya
    • Retail and Business Banking Director in Absa Kenya and Absa Zambia 
    • Operations Efficiency Manager, Barclays Global Retail & Commercial Banking, London.
    Qualifications
    • Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) - Kenyatta University
    • Masters Business Administration (MBA) – Edith Cowan University
    • Advanced Management Programme (IMD Business School – Switzerland).

     

    Yusuf Omari - Chief Finance Officer
    • Appointed to Board: June 2009
    • Committee membership: None
    External roles and memberships
    • Board Member, University of Nairobi Enterprise Services
    • Board Member, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK)
    Previous roles
    • Head of Compliance, Barclays Kenya
    • Head of Internal Audit East and West Africa, Barclays Kenya
    • Senior Auditor, KPMG
    Qualifications
    • Advanced Management Program (AMP), Strathmore and IESE Business School
    • MBA, Strathmore Business School
    • B.A. Economics, University of Nairobi
    • Fellow, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya
    • Certified Internal Auditor
    Japheth Olende - Non-Executive Director
    • Appointed to Board: March 2018
    • Board Chairperson: Absa Bancassurance Intermediary Limited
    • Subsidiary Board Membership: Absa Asset Management Limited
    • Committee Chairperson: Credit Committee
    • Committee membership: Credit Committee, Corporate Governance Nominations & Remuneration Committee
    External roles and memberships
    • Board Member, Jumbo Chem Company Limited
    • Board Member Ler Ltd
    • Executive Director, OBG Company Limited
    • Board Member, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
    Previous roles
    • Board Member, Retirement Benefits Authority
    • Board Member, AIG Kenya Insurance Company
    • Board Member, AIG Uganda Insurance Company
    • President, American Chamber of Commerce Kenya Chapter
    • Director, Association of Kenya Insurers
    • Director, Eagle Eye Laser Centre
    Qualifications
    • Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), University of Nairobi
    • Chartered Insurer, CII London
    • Member, Institute of Directors
    Patricia Ithau - Non-Executive Director
    • Appointed to Board: March 2016
    • Board Chairperson: Absa Securities Limited
    • Committee Chairperson: Corporate Governance Nominations & Remuneration Committee
    • Committee membership: ARC
    External roles and memberships
    • Managing Director, WPP-Scangroup Limited
    • Regional Director, Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies – Stanford Seed
    • Non-Executive Director, Vivo Activewear Limited
    • Non-Executive Director, Jambojet Ltd
    • Trustee, Vodafone Foundation UK
    • Non-Executive Director, Mpesa Foundation
    • Non-Executive Director, British Chamber of Commerce
    • Executive Coach, Academy of Executive Coaching
    Previous roles
    • Non-Executive Director, Trade and Markets East Africa
    • Former Non-Executive Director, Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA)
    • Non-Executive Director, WPP Scangroup Ltd
    • Managing Director, L’Oreal East Africa
    • Managing Director, EABL – International
    • Managing Director, Uganda Breweries Ltd
    Qualifications
    • Advanced Management Program (AMP), Strathmore and IESE Business School
    • MBA, United States International University Africa
    • Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), University of Nairobi
    • Dip. Executive Coaching, Academy of Executive Coaching
    Louis Onyango Otieno - Non-Executive Director
    • Appointed to Board: March 2018
    • Board Chairperson: Absa Asset Management Limited
    • Committee Chairperson: Strategy Committee
    • Committee membership: Audit & Risk Committee
    External roles and memberships
    • Board Member, Nation Media Group
    • Chairman, Sera Afrika
    Previous roles
    • Director, Corporate Affairs, Microsoft 4Afrika
    • General Manager, East and Southern Africa, Microsoft Corporation
    • President, American Chamber of Commerce - Kenya
    • ICT Advisor to the Presidents of Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique
    • ICT Advisor, COMESA Business Council
    • Board Member, Kenya Vision 2030
    • Board Member, Red Media Africa (Nigeria)
    • Board Member, Enablis East Africa
    • Board Member, Fintech International
    Qualifications
    • MBA, Long Island University
    • BSc (Hons) Computer Science, Mercy College
    Charles Njenga Murito - Non-Executive Director
    • Appointed to Board: June 2020
    • Committee membership: Strategy Committee, Nominations & Remuneration Committee, Credit Committee
    External roles and memberships
    • Regional Director, Sub Saharan Africa, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google
    Previous roles
    • Country Director, Google Kenya
    • MD and Chief Commercial Officer of Programming, Wananchi Group (Zuku)
    • Director, Business Development, Middle East and Africa, Turner Broadcasting (Europe)
    • Senior Manager, Programming Strategy, Turner Broadcasting (Europe)
    • Chief of Staff to the President, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
    • Brand and Sales Manager, East Africa, MTV Networks Africa
    • Sales Executive, Content Sales, Domestic TV Distribution, Warner Bros. Entertainment Ltd
    Qualifications
    • MBA, Entertainment Business and Finance, Cass Business School, London, 2011
    • Bachelor of Science, Psychology and Management, Woodbury University Burbank, California, 2000
    Christine Sabwa - Non-Executive Director
    • Appointed to Board: February 2022
    • Committee Chair: Audit & Risk Committee
    External Roles and Memberships
    • Managing Partner, Sabwa & Associates
    • Board Member, Britam Life Assurance Kenya Limited
    • Board Member, Multi Choice Group Limited
    • Board Member, ECLOF Kenya
    • Board Member, Shalom Group of Hospitals
    Previous Roles
    • Group CFO, Stanbic Bank Kenya Limited
    • COO, Airtel Money Africa
    • Board Member, Spire Bank Kenya Limited
    • Board Member, Royal Nairobi Golf Club
    Qualifications
    • BCom (Accounting), University of Nairobi, Kenya
    • Certified Public Accountant, Kenya

     

    Kedibone Imathiu - Non-Executive Director
    • Appointed 1 November 2022
    • Committee membership: Audit & Risk Committee, Corporate Governance Nominations & Remuneration  Committee
    External roles and memberships
    • Non-executive Director, AIG South Africa (Pty) Limited
    • Non-executive Director, AIG Life (Pty) Limited
    • Non-executive Director, The Federated Employees Mutual Assurance Company (Pty) Ltd
    • Non-executive Director, Old Mutual Investment Services Nominees (Pty) Ltd
    • Non-Executive Director, BK Capital Group Ltd
    • Non-executive Director, Sekta Group (Pty) Ltd
    • Director, Kazi Investments II (Pty) Ltd
    Previous roles
    • Co-Founder and Executive Director, Kazi Capital (Pty) Ltd, South Africa
    • Fund Principal, Public Investment Corporation, South Africa
    • Corporate Finance Consultant, Investec Limited, South Africa and UK
    • Audit Manager and Senior Associate, KPMG, South Africa and USA
    Qualifications
    • BCom, University of South Africa
    • Bachelor of Accounting Science (Honors), University of South Africa
    • MBA, Cranfield University, UK
    • Chartered Accountant, South Africa
    • Chartered Director, South Africa
    Fulvio Tonelli - Non-Executive Director
    • Appointed to Board: October 2020
    • Committee membership: Audit & Risk Committee, Credit Committee, Strategy Committee
    External roles and memberships
    • Board Member, Absa Group Limited
    • Chairman, Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors
    • Non-Executive Director, the Ethics Institute
    Previous roles
    • Partner, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Operating Officer, PwC South Africa
    Qualifications
    • BCom (Accounting), University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, SA
    • BCom, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, SA
Need more help?

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+254 (20) 3900000 (Landline)
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+254 (732) 130120 (Mobile)

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+254 710 130000

Email us:
absa.kenya@absa.africa