Kenya

Dilip was recently named East Africa's CFO of the Year alongside two other major awards.

The search for East Africa's most outstanding finance leaders is on as nominations open for the 2026 CFO Awards for East Africa.

At the CFO East Africa ESG Summit on 10 July, EY associate partner Manasses Biwott delivered a clear message to finance leaders: sustainability has moved from the margins to the centre of business strategy.

A single act of faith can change an entire career trajectory. When Caxton Makau was still finding his footing after high school, a finance manager in the insurance industry took him under his wing. Years later, as the finance chief at Geminia Life Insurance, Caxton continues to pay that generosity forward.

Five leading organisations have signed up for corporate memberships with CFO East Africa, deepening their engagement with regional finance leaders and unlocking premium career development opportunities for their senior finance teams.

For many finance leaders, sustainable performance comes from the routines that help them stay grounded. Pathcare Kenya CFO Stephen Kimani, ICEA Lion Life Assurance CFO Kevin Nyakeri and Inyange Industries finance director Paul Tuyizere reveal the practices that help them stay focused.

EABL’s first tranche under its KSh 20 billion medium-term note programme was oversubscribed, raising KSh 16.7 billion against a target of KSh 11 billion.

What began as casual weekend training sessions became a lifeline for boys in Nairobi’s Huruma estate seeking guidance and support. Jubilee Insurance CFO Eugine Mutekhele’s basketball project now provides pathways to education and work.

After nearly four years as the head of finance at Qona Sacco, Eric Shikanda has stepped into the COO role at The Kenya Bankers DT Sacco.

Returning to her alma mater 27 years after graduating, EABL group CFO Risper Genga-Ohaga called on students to define success for themselves.

Maneno Mpagama works with a clear head, even when the pressure mounts. He has made a habit of calm thinking and knowing when to stand his ground.

In finance, courage often takes the form of refusing to take the easy route. DPF Uganda FD Dr Michael Lugemwa, HEVA Fund FD Dr Karimi Ngeera and Baylor Foundation Uganda FD Marie Nassiwa Martin speak to CFO East Africa about the decisions that tested their values.

Absa Bank Kenya has joined as a partner for the 2025 CFO Awards for East Africa, the region’s most prestigious celebration of finance leadership.

Behind every milestone in Philip ole Kamwaro’s career lies a quiet faith. The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) finance head says his deep personal conviction has carried him through milestones that once felt like detours.

Although some argue that leadership is instinctive, many finance executives learn this skill through trial and error. ZEP-RE CFO Dr Rachael Gitonga, AGL Tanzania FD Sekou Kaba, NSSF Uganda CFO Stevens Mwanje and I&M Bank Tanzania head of finance Veronica Magongo reflect on the experiences that taught them how to lead.

In the last decade alone, the world financial landscape has experienced one of the most significant shifts since double-entry accounting was invented: the emergence of virtual assets. For CFOs, blockchain is not just a tool for timesaving; it is a strategic enabler.

Most CFOs treat risk as something to manage and measure, but for those who go on to build their own companies, it is far more personal. Bag Innovation CFO Akash Ladha, Umoja Coin CFO Bornmathew Nuru, and BasiGo CFO Jonathan Green explain what it means to carry both the financial and emotional weight of running a business.

Solomon Nzomo grew up between the bustle of Eastleigh and the quiet of Sabaki, a contrast that gave him a unique lens on the world. As a CFO, he finds meaning in the stories the numbers tell.

Hillary will lead the fintech’s financial strategy, operational excellence and inclusion agenda across East Africa.

Although finance leaders are often judged by profit margins and cost control, many find that their most meaningful contributions happen beyond the numbers. For ICEA Lion Uganda CFO Philip Ahabwe, Kioo financial controller Dipen Patel and Lake Turkana Wind Power CFO Alice Wathika, the real indicators of success are less about financial performance and more about the human impact of their work.