Over the years, Kenya has seen men holding powerful position in local companies or organisations.
However, this is gradually changing as more women are currently taking over these top positions.
In this article, WoK looks at institutions that the top female Kenyan CEOs attended.
Rosemary Oduor
Engineer Rosemary Oduor is the acting CEO of Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) having been appointed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
She joined KPLC in 1991 and she has rose through the ranks to become the CEO.
After completing her primary and secondary schools, Oduor joined Moi University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Technology degree, majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering.
She later obtained a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nairobi.
Jane Karuku
Jane Karuku is the CEO of East African Breweries (EABL), the largest beverage production company in the East African region.
She served as the Managing Director of Kenya Breweries Limited, a subsidiary of the East African Breweries Limited before assuming her current position.
Karuki graduated from the University of Nairobi in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology.
She also attended the National University of California for a Master of Business Administration.
Nasim Devji
Nasim Devji is the current Managing Director (MD) and CEO of Diamond Trust Bank Group (DTB).
DTB is a commercial banking conglomerate with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and operations in Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.
She joined DTB in 1996 as a regional financial controller and rose through the ranks to be appointed the CEO in 2001.
Devji went through secondary school in Tanzania before returning to Kenya to pursue her studies at Kenya Institute of Management in Nairobi.
She is also Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, an Associate of the Institute of Taxation (United Kingdom) and Fellow of the Kenya Institute of Bankers.
Betty Korir
Betty Korir is the CEO of Credit Bank.
After completion of her secondary school education, Korir joined Moi University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree.
She also holds a a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Nairobi, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
Brenda Mbathi
Brenda Mbathi is the CEO of General Electric (GE) East Africa.
She joined General Electric in March 2015 and was responsible for managing government relations and advocacy across the African continent.
Mbathi attended Mount Holyoke College where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Geography.
Rebecca Mbithi
Rebecca Mbiti is the director and CEO of Family Bank.
She went to the University of Nairobi where she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and later a post-graduate diploma from Kenya School of Law (KSL).
Mbithi also holds a Masters in Business Administration in Strategic Management from USIU.
Joyce Ann Wainaina
Joyce Ann Wainaina is the CEO of Citibank Kenya and the regional executive director of Citibank subsidiaries in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
She attended Duquesne University in the USA and the University of London where she graduated with a a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Science in Financial Economics respectively.
