Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Group has emerged as the best bank in Kenya and the best bank in Africa in Corporate and Social Responsibility during the 2017 Euromoney Awards for Excellence.
The ceremony that was held in London on Thursday evening recognised the bank for its outstanding financial performance in Kenya, and its significant contribution in addressing social problems across East Africa.
“We have been trailblazers in this region in terms of embedding social responsibility in our business, not because it is what everyone is doing but because it makes business sense for us. We must make a difference in the societies that have given us a license to operate in,” said KCB Group CEO and MD Joshua Oigara. “We believe that financial inclusion must be carried out in a holistic manner if it is to have an impact. We are therefore very grateful that our efforts have been recognised,” he said.
This is the third time the Bank has won the globally acclaimed Euromoney Award, the first time in 2005 and later in 2014.
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The Bank has been at the forefront of playing a bigger role in entrenching financial inclusion, with some of its products acknowledged as helping bridge the gap. KCB was awarded the Best Bank in Africa in Corporate and Social Responsibility in acknowledgment of the unique “shared value” philosophy entrenched in the programme designed and implemented by its social investment arm, the KCB Foundation .
Last year, KCB initiated the ambitious 2jiajiri programme, a job creation vehicle that focuses on alleviating youth unemployment. In addition to 2jiajiri, the lender also has theMifugo ni Mali initiative which is a livestock value chain improvement programme in the Arid and Semi-Arid Counties.
The 2017 Euromoney Excellence Awards are aimed at recognising on a global front the efforts financial institutions are making towards improving their financial operation services and implementing strategic core business functions that ensure they are on track towards their immediate business goals.
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