Kenya boasts some of the most established companies in the region, headed by decorated men and women. These individuals have successfully managed to steer their companies into profitability while maintaining their status in the corporate chain.
The managing directors and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of these companies posses training and skills in various fields. In this article, WoK takes a look at the degrees held by CEOs of successful companies in Kenya.
James Mwangi
He is the CE) of Equity Bank Group. Mwangi is arguably among the most successful CEOs in the country, steering Equity bank into one of the largest banks in East and Central Africa. He is among the highest-paid CEOs in Kenya and arguable one of the richest individuals.
Equity Bank has branches across various countries in EAC including recently in DRC Congo. The Bank also has one of the most successful academic scholarship programmes in the continent, dubbed “Wings to Fly”.
The Equity CEO attended the University of Nairobi, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, after which he sat and passed the Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPAK) examinations.
Mwangi holds five honorary doctorate degrees, a Doctor of Business Administration from Kenya Methodist University, Doctor of Humane Letters from Kenyatta University, and Doctor of Entrepreneurship from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. He also has a Doctor of Business Management (Honours Causa) from Meru University of Science and Technology and a Doctorate of Letters from Africa Nazarene University.
Peter Ndegwa
Ndegwa was appointed Safaricom CEO on April 1, 2020, making him the first Kenyan to be at the helm of the giant telco. He took the mantle from Michael Joseph who was the acting CEO following the demise of the charismatic Bob Collymore in July 2019.
The Safaricom CEO boasts an impressive resume in the corporate world, having served in the ranks of various companies across the world. Prior to the telco, he was the managing director of Diageo Continental Europe. In this role, he oversaw business in over 50 countries in Western and Eastern Europe, Russia, Middle East and North Africa.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi. He attended London School of Business for his MBA. He is also a certified public accountant and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).
Benson Wairegi
Wairegi is the incumbent Group Managing Director and Group CEO of British-American Investments Company (Britam).
He first joined Britam at age 24 as the Chief Accountant and has grown to be head of the company and is also reported to have a stake in the company.
Wairegi holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Nairobi and a Masters in Business Administration from the same institution.
The Britam CEO is also a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya.
Patrick Nyaga
Nyaga took over as the CEO in June 2020 and has a wide experience in finance, audit and strategy. He previously worked at Cooperative Bank as the head of strategy and finance.
He holds an undergraduate degree of commerce in accounting and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Strathmore Business School.
Nasim Devji
She is the Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Diamond Trust Bank (DTB). She boasts over 25 years of experience working in the financial sector and growing a bank to regional heights.
Nasim has been recognised for her outstanding leadership and capability, She has been ranked among the leading CEOs in Kenya. Her success in the corporate world inspires many youths looking to make it in that world.
Nasim attended high school in neighbouring Tanzania and went abroad for her tertiary education in 1971.
She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, a Fellow of the Kenya Institute of Bankers, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (Kenya) and an Associate of the Institute of Taxation (United Kingdom).
She is a Director of DTB Tanzania, DTB Uganda, DTB Burundi, Jubilee Insurance Burundi and Diamond Trust Bancassurance Intermediary Agency Limited.
Gideon Muriuki
Gideon Muriuki is the Managing Director and CEO of Co-operative Bank.
He has been at the helm of the bank since 2001 and has been credited with turning around the fortunes of the bank. He transformed the lender from a loss-making entity to the third-largest bank in the country by asset management.
Muriuki’s tenure at the bank has seen Co-operative grow into a leading lender in the country and a preference of many Kenyans.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. He is a Fellow of the Kenya Institute of Bankers and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Management in the year 2011.
Rebecca Mbithi
She is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Family Bank Ltd. She was appointed to the role in February 2019.
Mrs Mbithi attended the University of Nairobi, Kenya’s oldest public university, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree. She went on to enroll in the Advocate Training Program at the Kenya School of Law after which she was admitted to the bar.
She holds a Master’s in Business Administration (Strategic Management) from United States International University (USIU) and an LLB degree from the University of Nairobi. She is also a certified public accountant and a certified public secretary as well.
Rebecca Miano
Miano is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of electricity producer Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen).
She has had a 30-year multi-faceted career in the energy sector and is a recognised continental business leader focused on running KenGen as a sustainable entity.
Miano is touted to be among the highest-earning CEOs in the country due to her role at the helm of KenGen.
She attended the University of Nairobi where she graduated with a degree in Law before proceeding to the Kenya School of Law for the Advocates Training Program. She later attended the prestigious Australian National University where she graduated with a Master of Law in Comparative Law.
Dr. Catherine Nyongesa
Dr. Catherine Nyongesa Naliaka Watta, a Clinical Oncologist, is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Texas Cancer Centre.
The medical facility is among the leading cancer screening and treatment hospitals in the country. It has multiple branches across the country.
Dr Nyongesa holds a Master of Medicine in Radiation oncology from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. She spent three years in the university’s Radiation Oncology residency program graduating in 2005.
Jane Karuku
Jane Karuku is the Managing Director (MD) and CEO of East African Breweries (EABL), the largest beverage production company in the East African region.
She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Nairobi. She also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the prestigious National University of California.
Brenda Mbathi
Brenda Mbathi is the current CEO of General Electric (GE) East Africa. She joined General Electric in March 2015 and was responsible for managing government relations and advocacy across Africa.
Prior to joining General Electric, she served as a Corporate Affairs Director for East African Breweries Limited (EABL).
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Geography from Mount Holyoke College.
