Kenya’s corporate sector has seen women break the glass ceiling, taking up positions as directors or chairpersons on boards of leading firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange(NSE). Women leadership in corporate organisations has evolved from a rarity to a testament of their potential and vision.
The rise of female leadership in top executive positions is seen as an achievement of gender equality and a demonstration of diverse leadership that is bringing fresh ideas, new perspectives and a soft touch of innovative strategies to corporate Kenya. Business Today highlights some of the female Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and women directors sitting in the boardroom of some of the listed firms in Kenya.
The recent appointment of Biova Agbokou as the new chairperson of TotalEnergies Marketing Kenya Plc Board of Directors adds another feather on the cap of women Executives and Directors sitting in the boardrooms of some of the leading companies listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).
She joins other women high on Kenya’s corporate ladder at the NSE who include Catherine Kimura, Board Chairperson at Kenya Reinsurance Corporation, Isabella Ochola-Wilson who leads the Board of Unga Group, Joy Brenda Masinde, Chairperson at Kenya Power, and Kellen Eileen Kariuki, the Chairperson at Standard Chartered Bank Kenya.
More and more women now sit at the decision-making table, running the affairs of some of the largest listed firms, stretching from banks, manufacturing firms to insurance companies. Most are now Chief Executive Officers or non-executive directors.
On the list are Non-Executive Directors who are paid for their invaluable contributions during Board and Committee meetings. At Sameer Africa, now the best performer at the NSE sits Patricia Kiwanuka, is a seasoned expert with over 20 years of experience in investment, governance, and behavioural psychology.
She sits on the Sameer Board together with Lydia Muthoni Mbuthia – appointed non-exec director in 2017. Lydia holds a PhD in Commerce from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), South Africa, an MBA (Finance) and a Bachelor of Education (Science) from Kenyatta University. She is a qualified accountant and a member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Occupying the C-suite office at Diamond Trust Bank is Group CEO Nasim Devji. She shares the board with Pamella Ager, the only other female of the board of this bank. Jubilee Health Insurance Limited has Nancy Muthoni on its board as well as Evelyne Muriuki, Poonam Vora, Eva Warigia and Rose Mwaura.
At Unga Group Plc sits Wangari Murugu – independent non-exec director, Kinya Kimotho – independent non-exec director, Shilpa Haria-Non-Executive Director and Isabella Ochola-Wilson, Chairperson of the firm’s board of directors.
Listed Banks have several women on the boards led by Absa Bank Kenya which has Kedibone Imathiu, Christine Sabwa, and Marion Gathoga-Mwangi. A seasoned boardroom player, Marion is previously Group Chief Executive Officer at the Standard Group PLC and Managing Director at BOC Kenya PLC. She has also served as a non-executive director at British American Tobacco Kenya Plc and BOC Kenya Plc.
Marion holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Business Administration from United States International University (USIU-A) and a Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching from Academy of Executive Coaches. Additionally, she contributes as Adjunct Faculty at SBS Training, where she leads the Women in Leadership program.
At EABL sits Ms. Risper Ohaga Executive Director and Group Chief Financial Officer and Ms. Jane Karuku, Executive Director, Group Managing Director and CEO at EABL.
The listed brewer also has Ms. Ory Okolloh, an Independent Non-Executive Director, and a former non-executive director in Stanbic Holdings Plc and Stanbic Bank Kenya. She has served as an advisory board member to Twiga Foods, Amnesty International Africa among several other organisations.
FTSE 10 Global Reward Director
Another female on the EABL Board is Lorna Benton, a Non-Executive Director, effective 18th March 2025. Lorna is currently the Group Performance & Reward Director at Diageo PLC, a role she assumed in April 2023. She previously led Global Reward for WPP PLC and Compass Group PLC, holding senior executive positions. In addition, Ms. Benton serves as an Independent Member of the Remuneration Committee of the Rugby Football Union.
A seasoned FTSE 10 Global Reward Director, Lorna’s expertise spans M&A, employee relations, performance management, and diversity & inclusion. She has successfully led high-performing teams in matrix structures, leveraging her results-driven leadership to foster strong partnerships across diverse industries and cultures.
The other woman on the EABL Board is Ms. Hina Nagarajan, Executive Director. Ms. Nagarajan is also the president of Diageo Africa, overseeing the company’s operations across the continent. She also serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of BP Plc. Since joining Diageo, she has held key leadership positions including Managing Director and CEO of Diageo India, and Managing Director for Africa Regional Markets.
Her career spans general management, marketing, and leadership across both developed and emerging markets.
Ms. Nagarajan brings to the EABL Board a strong blend of international experience, strategic leadership, and a proven track record in driving growth and transformation.
At Kenya Power, there is Ruth Muiruri Independent Non-Executive Director. Ms. Muiruri joined the Board on 8th December 2023. Also on the board of Kenya Power is Logan Christi Hambrick, an independent Non-Executive Director.
Logan has experience in gender policy, NGO management, corporate governance and labor law, organization change management programs, and the healthcare industry. Logan joined the Board on 16th December 2022. Joy Brenda Masinde, Chairman of the Board (Independent Non-Executive Director) at Kenya Power. She joined the Kenya Power Board and was appointed as the Chairperson on 16th December 2022.
The Safaricom board
Safaricom Plc Women Board of Directors include Murielle Lorilloux -Non-Executive Director. Others are Ms. Rita Kavashe, also Rita is the Managing Director of Isuzu East Africa Ltd, where she has worked for 27 years. Raisibe Morathi- a Non-Executive Director, is also a female director at Safaricom Plc.
ELODIE LUCE – Chairperson of the Board, TotalKenya is a graduate of HEC business school and holds a master’s degree in business law from Paris-Sud University (Paris XI). She has an illustrious career spanning over two decades in finance, law, and corporate governance. The other female director at TotalKenya is MS. FERNANDA SCHRODER, with a Solid 10 years of experience in the energy industry. Fernanda has held several senior roles within TotalEnergies including Corporate and Project Financing Manager.
Also on the TotalEnergies Marketing Kenya PLC board is Catherine Musakali, a Non-Executive Director. She is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Secretaries of Kenya.
She holds a Master of Laws Degree from the University of Nairobi, a Post Graduate Diploma from Kenya School of Law, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree from the University of Nairobi and a Certificate in Securities and Investment from the Securities and Investment Institute (UK).
Catherine, who supports gender representation in corporate Kenya particularly in the boardroom, is a co-founder and Chair of ‘Women on Boards Network Kenya’ a non-profit which prepares and supports senior women to access board positions.
At KCB sits ANUJA PANDIT, who was appointed director on August 1st, 2022.
Revenue and market growth
A senior banker of almost two decades, Anuja has several years of experience leading diverse teams in Sub-Saharan Africa, having worked with Citibank as Vice President in their Fixed Income, Currencies & Commodities (FICC) Sales, and most recently as their Regional Director, driving their digital Strategy in automated trading systems for their Institutional and Corporate Client Base.
She has had further experience in leading teams in Africa, that developed and executed strategic business initiatives that delivered revenue and market growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Anuja currently runs her own consultancy helping property management companies streamline operations and compliance.
Also on the Board of KCB is ALICE KIRENGE. She has several years’ experience in senior management roles in the Corporate World with close to 30 years in the Insurance/Financial services sector. She is a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD).
AGNES NJERI LUTUKAI was appointed KCB Director on March 1st, 2024. She is a seasoned Chartered Accountant with over 35 years’ experience at KPMG, 24 of which were at partner level. Her distinguished career spans various leadership roles at KPMG East Africa, South Africa, and Nigeria. She also worked as a part time consulting Partner on audit quality initiatives within the Europe, Middle East & Africa region until February 2024.
Agnes has previously served as the Chairman Central Bank Nigeria Technical Work Group of Regulators and External Auditors of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria; a committee member, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria; and a Committee Member, National Insurance Commission, Nigeria. She is also a member of Women on Boards Network and an Alumni of Centre for Corporate Governance.
Women holding powerful positions at BOC Kenya include Mrs. Cosima Wetende (age 49) Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed to the Board in March 2016.
Independent directors
Mrs M Gathoga-Mwangi, another female non-executive director at BOC Kenya, resigned in July 2024. She was then appointed Group CEO of Standard Group PLC. She held the position of MD of BOC Kenya from July 2018 to December 2021.
At Eaagads is Muthoni Runji-Pertet, an Independent, Non-Executive Director while Pamella Ager is an Independent Director of Kakuzi Plc. She is a well-seasoned corporate and commercial law advocate with over twenty-two years’ experience.
Mrs. Betty Koech-Sasini Plc is an Independent Non-Executive Director. She was appointed to the Board of Sasini PLC on 9th August 2018. Another female director at Sasini is Mrs. Rosemary Munyiri.
She has a wealth of experience in management and strategic advisory roles, financial planning and reporting, audit, risk management, business governance and ethics, leadership and change management through the various roles she’s held and is at the core of developing, leading, assessing and advocating for ethical business practices.
She was appointed to the Board of Sasini PLC on 9th August 2018.
Equity Group has Mrs. Farida Khambata as NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. She was named among Euromoney’s Top 50 Women in Finance and awarded Best Woman Director in 2015.
Equity Group has 8 Women on its Management Executive Team, as Chief Legal Officer, Special Assets, Company Secretary, Internal Audit, Chief Information Security Officer, MD Equity Tanzania, MD Equity Life Assurance
Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited has Kellen Eileen Kariuki, Chairperson of its Board of Directors, appointed to the Board in February 2020 and elected as the Chairperson of the Board in May 2021.
Senior positions
Kellen has strong and diverse skills in banking, strategy, corporate governance, finance, and leadership. She held several senior positions at Citibank N.A. before joining the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority as the first Chief Executive Officer and Managing Trustee. She previously held non-executive director appointments at Resolution Insurance Limited, Citibank Uganda, the Kenya Roads Board, was a nominee director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), non-executive director of AMREF Health Africa, AMREF Flying Doctors, and chair of Citibank Tanzania Limited.
Chemutai Murgor, the other female director at SCBK was appointed to the Board in March 2007. Chemutai has been with the Bank for over 21 years and has wide experience in finance having worked previously as the Head of Finance as well as Head of Business Finance. Chemutai has also held various senior positions at Deloitte and Touché both in Kenya and the United Kingdom. Chemutai is a director on various other Standard Chartered Bank Kenya subsidiary Boards.
Edith Chumba was appointed to the SCBK Board in December 2024. Edith has over 21 years of retail banking experience, having started her career at Absa Bank Kenya Plc before joining Standard Chartered Bank Kenya in 2015. She has been instrumental in leading the transformation of the WRB business and in overseeing the delivery of turnaround strategies for the business in Kenya.
Other female directors at the UK-based bank include Nivedita Sharma, and Beverley Obatoyinbo, an Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed to the Board in January 2025.
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