In summary
-Lillian Ngala is the HR Director for DTB Bank, besides running an organisation that helps widows, orphans, youths and disabled people live a dignified life.
-Her commitment to this cause is deeply personal and inspired by her own experience her mother struggling with the family’s needs following the death of her father.
Here is her story as told by WoK:
Widowed mom struggling
While in high school, Lillian Ngala’s father passed away leaving the widowed mother facing significant financial and social challenges. The mother had to relocate the family to Homa Bay where they lived in a grass-thatched house which leaked whenever it rained.
To make a living, the mom worked as a tailor and would sew uniforms for a missionary school which in turn waived the required school fees.
“The family never lacked food, but dignity was a daily struggle,” she told Daily Nation.
Helping Widows
Following her illustrious career in the corporate sector where she has steadily risen to become the HR Director at DTB Bank, Lillian extends her impact beyond the boardroom through various philanthropic initiatives.
She runs the Lillian Ngala Foundation, an NGO meant to restore dignity and empower vulnerable people in the community.
She has been able to support over 100 widows from Homa Bay get decent housing. The initiatives also extends to helping them acquire capital for various small scale ventures and training them on managing the business.
Ngala says that this has in turn helped the women build on their confidence and live decent lives.
“Poverty makes widows hide, they don’t want to be seen, but the moment you give them a decent house, they come out. They walk into the market with their heads high. The transition is everything,” she says.
Her foundation also helps with school fees bursaries for orphaned and vulnerable children. It also empowers youths noting that this is beneficial for the wider community. For persons with disabilities, she helps with removing various barriers.
Decorated corporate career
Ngala has a decorated corporate career and has been in the human resource management field for over 20 years. She joined DTB Bank in 2012 where she has risen to become the HR Director. She overseas various functions including strategy and talent initiatives.
She holds an MBA in Strategic Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. She is certified as a professional trainer by the Institute of Human Resource Management.
She sits in various board including the Kenya Institute of Bankers, African Human Resource Congress and the Kenyan Network Information Centre (KeNIC).
She spearheads the Lillian Ngala Network that is committed to empowering the next generation of leaders.
Awards
- Shujaa Award 2025
- Top 50 HR leaders in Africa 2022
- Top 20 women making a difference in Kenya, 2021
- Top 50 influential women in Kenya 2025