This tracker lists new CEOs in Kenya and board changes at large companies, using only what each company states in its own notice, press release or leadership page. It covers nine changes in 2026 so far, from Bamburi Cement’s new chief executive in April to KenGen’s CEO designate, who takes office in February 2027.
Checked on 10 November 2026. Each row links to the company’s own document. We add a change when the company announces it, not when it is reported elsewhere.
Contents
New CEOs in Kenya: the tracker
| Effective | Company | Role | Incoming | Outgoing / note | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb 2027 | KenGen NSE | Managing Director and CEO (designate) | Ronoh Kibet Charles | Eng. Peter Waweru Njenga (retiring) Currently KenGen's General Manager for commercial services; picked after a competitive recruitment process. | Designate | KenGen press release Dated 24 Oct 2026 |
| 1 Nov 2026 | The Standard Group NSE | Group Chief Executive Officer | Dr Naim Bilal Yaseen | Supersedes the acting appointment announced in October Former Managing Director of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and Director of Public Affairs and Communication at the Judiciary. | Appointment | Standard Group board notice Dated 29 Oct 2026 |
| 15 Oct 2026 | The Standard Group NSE | Independent Non-Executive Directors | Anthony Ambaka Kegode, Tom Odongo, Elishah Njeru | Three independent directors appointed under the Capital Markets disclosure regulations. | Board | Standard Group board notice Dated 15 Oct 2026 |
| 15 Sep 2026 | Kenya Airways NSE | Acting Group Managing Director and CEO | Habil Waswani | Capt. George Kamal (resigned; formal exit 30 Sep 2026) Waswani is the Company Secretary and Director Legal Services. The board says recruitment of a substantive CEO has started. | Acting | Kenya Airways public announcement Dated 1 Sep 2026 |
| 1 Aug 2026 | Stanbic Bank Kenya NSE (via Stanbic Holdings) | Chief Executive | Michael Mutiga | Previously Chief Business Development & Strategy Officer at Safaricom Plc. | Appointment | Stanbic Bank Kenya leadership page |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Airtel Kenya Unlisted (Airtel Africa subsidiary) | Managing Director | Djibril Tobe | Ashish Malhotra (to CEO, Indus Towers Limited Africa) Previously Managing Director of Airtel Congo B. | Appointment | Airtel Kenya announcement (official LinkedIn) |
| 1 Apr 2026 | Bamburi Cement NSE | Chief Executive Officer | Geoffrey Ndugwa | Mohit Kapoor (resigned 31 Mar 2026) Subject to regulatory approvals, the notice says. | Appointment | Bamburi Cement board announcement |
| 1 Apr 2026 | Kipeto Energy PLC Unlisted PLC | Chief Executive Officer | Simon Wade | Allan Munyua (led the company since 2024) | Appointment | Kipeto Energy announcement Dated 1 Apr 2026 |
| 1 Apr 2026 | The Standard Group NSE | Chief Executive Officer (substantive) | Chaacha Mwita | Acting CEO since July 2025 Later succeeded by Dr Naim Bilal Yaseen from 1 Nov 2026. | Appointment | Standard Group public announcement Dated 1 Apr 2026 |
Checked 10 Nov 2026. Only changes stated in a company's own notice, press release, leadership page or official social account, or a Kenya Gazette notice. Names and titles as written by the company.
Who runs these companies now
The current chief executive at each company we track, as shown on its own website or in its latest notice:
| Company | Role | Current holder | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absa Bank Kenya | Managing Director and CEO | Yusuf Omari | Absa Bank Kenya, About us |
| Airtel Kenya | Managing Director | Djibril Tobe | Airtel Kenya leadership page |
| Bamburi Cement | Chief Executive Officer | Geoffrey Ndugwa | Bamburi Cement board announcement |
| KenGen | Managing Director and CEO | Eng. Peter Waweru Njenga (until 31 Jan 2027) | KenGen press release |
| Kenya Airways | Acting Group Managing Director and CEO | Habil Waswani | Kenya Airways public announcement |
| Stanbic Bank Kenya | Chief Executive | Michael Mutiga | Stanbic Bank Kenya leadership page |
| The Standard Group | Group Chief Executive Officer | Dr Naim Bilal Yaseen | Standard Group board notice |
Checked 10 Nov 2026 on each company's own site or notice.
Notable changes in 2026
Kenya Airways. The airline’s board announced on 1 September 2026 that Capt. George Kamal had resigned as acting Group Managing Director and CEO for personal reasons. It named Habil Waswani, the company secretary and director of legal services, as acting Group MD and CEO from 15 September, and said it had started recruiting a substantive CEO. Our Kenya Airways CEO profile has the details.
The Standard Group. The media group made three top-level changes in seven months. Chaacha Mwita was confirmed as substantive CEO from 1 April 2026 after acting since July 2025. Three independent directors joined the board on 15 October. Then, in a notice dated 29 October, the board appointed Dr Naim Bilal Yaseen as Group CEO from 1 November, superseding an acting appointment it had announced days earlier. Read our Standard Group CEO story.
KenGen. The power producer named Ronoh Kibet Charles, its general manager for commercial services, as managing director and CEO designate in a statement on 24 October. He takes office on 1 February 2027, when Eng. Peter Waweru Njenga retires. Background is in our KenGen CEO story.
Banking and telecoms. Stanbic Bank Kenya’s leadership page shows Michael Mutiga as Chief Executive from 1 August 2026; he was previously Safaricom’s Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer. Airtel Kenya appointed Djibril Tobe as Managing Director from 1 July 2026, succeeding Ashish Malhotra, who moved to Indus Towers Limited Africa.
What the changes show
Looking across the new CEOs in Kenya this year, two patterns stand out. Four of the eight chief executive changes in the tracker went to people already inside the company or its group. KenGen promoted its commercial services head, Kenya Airways turned to its company secretary, Standard Group first confirmed its acting CEO, and Airtel moved a managing director from another Airtel Africa market. Stanbic’s Mutiga, who came from Safaricom, and Standard Group’s November choice, a former KBC managing director, came from outside.
Acting arrangements are common. Kenya Airways has had acting chief executives since December 2025, and Standard Group’s Mwita acted for nine months before his confirmation. When a company says it is running a “competitive recruitment process”, as Kenya Airways and KenGen did, the tracker records the acting or designate holder until a substantive appointment is announced.
Manufacturing and energy. Bamburi Cement appointed Geoffrey Ndugwa as CEO from 1 April 2026 after Mohit Kapoor resigned at the end of March. Kipeto Energy PLC appointed Simon Wade as CEO from the same date, after a transition period led by Allan Munyua.
How listed companies announce changes
Companies listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange must disclose changes to their board and senior management. Kenya Airways and Standard Group both cite the Capital Markets (Public Offers, Listings and Disclosures) Regulations, 2023 in their notices. Some appointments also need a regulator’s approval: Bamburi’s notice says its new CEO’s appointment is “subject to regulatory approvals”.
State corporations follow a different route. Their chairs are appointed by Gazette notice, and a proposed law would limit their CEOs to fixed terms; see our story on the State Corporations Bill and our guide to becoming a board member in Kenya.
For pay, see our CEO salaries in Kenya page, and for the wider people and wealth coverage, the people hub.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the new CEO of Kenya Airways?
Habil Waswani has been acting Group Managing Director and CEO since 15 September 2026, according to the airline’s board announcement. The board is recruiting a substantive CEO.
Who is the new Standard Group CEO?
Dr Naim Bilal Yaseen became Group Chief Executive Officer of The Standard Group on 1 November 2026, according to a board notice dated 29 October 2026.
Who will be KenGen’s next CEO?
Ronoh Kibet Charles takes over as managing director and CEO on 1 February 2027, succeeding Eng. Peter Waweru Njenga, KenGen announced on 24 October 2026.
How often is the list of new CEOs in Kenya updated?
We check company notices each week and add a change as soon as the company announces it. The date at the top of the table shows the last check.
How can a company get a change added?
Send the official notice or press release to info@businessradar.co.ke. We add changes that the company has announced publicly, with a link to the document.
