Kenya

Before an audience of more than 100 CFOs, CFO East Africa’s trusted partners had just four minutes to make their pitches before the buzzer sounded at the community’s first-ever Pitch Parade.

The modern CFO is no longer the executive who simply checks the numbers and sends them up the chain. As acting group CFO of Old Mutual East Africa, Isaiah Gakonyo sits at the intersection of technology, data, customer behaviour, capital discipline and long-term value creation. His approach is shaped by a persistent appetite for learning and asking better questions.

Lawrence Kimathi, group CFO at KCB, is among the nominees for the 2026 CFO East Africa Awards, with over 20 years of financial leadership across banking, insurance, beverages and tobacco in East Africa and beyond.

The hospital’s long-serving COO swaps roles with Baraka Kerich, who moves into operations after nearly eight years leading finance.

She joins the fund administrator from Ed Partners Africa, where she served as CFO for five years.

As part of its corporate membership, ATC, which powers mobile connectivity across Africa, brings its senior finance team into the community.

He previously served as CFO of the company's Africa region for over five years and brings additional experience from CFO roles at Osprey Renewables and Zambia Seed Company.

The tier one East African bank celebrates its 80th year in operation this year.

Dr Karimi Ngeera, finance director at HEVA Fund, is among the nominees for the 2026 CFO East Africa Awards, with expertise in blended finance, impact investing and creative economy finance.

Ira Kaviti, CFO at Jambojet, is among the nominees for the 2026 CFO East Africa Awards, with over 20 years of leadership across aviation, insurance, asset management and financial services.

The expanded mandate adds country-level operational leadership to her existing role, deepening her footprint across the insurance brokerage.

DP World head of finance Micah Nyariki sees finance as a platform for shaping strategy and enabling transformation. Throughout his journey, he has positioned finance at the centre of business decision-making, helping organisations navigate change. He has built his career around curiosity and the confidence to challenge what he sees.

When we discuss financial excellence on a pan-African scale, the spotlight often lands on massive conglomerates. Yet, true financial agility is forged in the trenches of the SME sector, where strategy meets execution in real-time.

The pan-African financial services institution, which boasts over four decades of history, is joining CFO East Africa's community of senior finance leaders as a corporate member.

Dickson built Kora to solve a problem he experienced firsthand. Eight years later, the company operates in 10 African countries and is showing CFOs that cross-border payments do not have to be painful.

He moves from KPMG East Africa, where he served as associate director in the audit practice, bringing over 15 years of experience across audit and risk management.

Stephen has learnt to see the people and strategy behind every figure. He has come to see the role as one of understanding what the numbers mean and what they make possible.

The long-serving CFO, who has steered the bank through two CEO transitions, has now been confirmed in the top role with immediate effect.