Transforming banking in Kenya

Vijay holds a Bachelor of Arts– LLB (law) degree from the University of Warwick, UK and qualified as a lawyer from Clifford Chance in the UK in 1992. He has worked in various capacities with Car & General and has seen the company grow regionally with representation in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Seychelles, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. Aside from Equity Group Holdings Plc Board, Vijay is also a board member at Cummins C&G Holdings Ltd; Watu Credit Limited; Ole Pejeta Conservancy; Metropolitan Cannon Assurance Limited; Fincom Ltd among others. He is a member of the Cummins Global Advisory Council and is the Chairman Cummins Middle East & Africa Advisory Council. He is an active member of the Young Presidents Association and is its former Chairman (Kenya Chapter) and former regional board member.

Moses has 22 years of deep and broad experience in delivering sustainable strategic value for organizations throughout his consulting career.

Before joining Equity Group, Mr Nyabanda was the Managing Director and Country Senior Partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Rwanda and a member of PwC Eastern Africa leadership team. He has a proven track record of leading effective teams, strategic planning, driving business growth and delivering impactful solutions to businesses and governments in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and the United Kingdom. He has worked closely with Executive Teams, Boards of Directors, and Senior Government officials to co-create trusted solutions to business challenges and has over the years developed trusted relationships and networks across different markets.

While at PwC, he was responsible for driving operational efficiency including resource planning, digital transformation, innovation, and cost management at PwC Eastern Africa. At Equity Group, Mr Nyabanda is a key member of the executive team who has demonstrated commitment to the Group's corporate philosophies and customer value creation. Throughout his career, Mr. Nyabanda has distinguished himself as a disciplined and thorough professional, demonstrating exceptional leadership in promoting robust control environments and productivity.

Adema graduated top of her class at USIU and went on to receive post-graduate degrees from some of the world’s top universities. As a Chevening Scholar, she obtained a Master of Business Administration from Oxford University, UK, and thereafter, a Master’s in Public Administration & Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, US, as an Edward S. Mason Fellow. She has worked mainly in the private sector for the past 23 years, starting out at Procter & Gamble East Africa where, at 27, she was the youngest regional CEO of a blue-chip company. She subsequently rose to senior leadership positions across Africa, Europe & North America. She has worked at UNEP as Chief of Brand and as a Senior Vice President Africa for a social impact organization. Most recently she worked in New York as a consultant with UN Women. She is currently the Managing Partner at C.Suite Africa, a management consultancy firm. Adema has received several nominations and recognitions. In 2012, she was recognized as a New Generation Leader by the African Leadership Network and has been honoured three times as “Top 40 Under 40” by Business Daily. In 2016, she was invited to the Paris-based Institut Choiseul’s as one of Africa’s top 100 emerging leaders. In 2018 she received the Distinguished Women’s Leadership Award and has recently been featured in The Journeys of Women Trailblazers in Kenya, a publication of the Kenya Government. She is passionate about Africa and sits on the Boards of several private and public sector organizations on the continent across various sectors.

Prof. Gideon Maina is currently the Vice Chancellor of Pioneer International University (PIU), a position he has held since 2014. Prof. Gideon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Maseno University, an MA in Political Science, and International Law from The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) and a PhD in Political Science/International Law from University of Cape Town, South Africa..

He is scholar in Political Science and International Law with over 17 years of academic research, institutional and administrative expertise in local and international institutions, boards, and task teams. He is a great mentor, an institutional builder, an organisational change strategist and a transformative leadership coach. Prof. Gideon has served in top management positions of regional universities as a Dean and later DVC students’ affairs-Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), acting Vice-Chancellor at Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Vice Chancellor of Pioneer International University (PIU), President of Rotary international and Director at Africa Policy Institute Resources and Environmental Governance Programme. Prof Gideon is the current Chair of the Alliance High School Parents Association. .

Currently, he is a consultant on governance, arbitration, bilateral and multilateral negotiations, foreign policy, International Humanitarian Law at the Kenya Foreign Service Institute, the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) and the Kenya delegation of ICRC. He is a key consultant at the International Trade Centre, a UN agency that deals with trade enhancement across the globe. Prof. Gideon is also is a member of globethics.net, an organisation that works to equip individuals and institutions for ethical thinking, decision making and policy engagement from a cross-cultural and global perspectives.

Fredrick is a businessman with vast commercial experience. He is the Managing Director of Continental Business Systems, Presta and Office Equipment Limited, Mugumo Coffee Ltd, Online Mobile Com. Ltd and Summerdale Inn Ltd.

Sammy is the immediate former CEO of Deloitte East Africa. He has extensive audit and advisory experience, having served for 38 years in various audit roles and has contributed to the development of the accounting profession in East, Central and Southern Africa through past roles; including as Chair of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya and President of the then East, Central and Southern Africa Federation of Accountants (ECSAFA), which he also represented in the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). Sammy holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting Option (First Class Honors) from the University of Nairobi and is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (FCPA), a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (FCA), Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya. He also obtained training on Arbitration and Mediation at the International Law Institute, George Town University, Washington DC. He is a Non-Executive Director at British American Tobacco Kenya PLC and a Director at Jadala Investments Ltd.

Dr. Muia holds a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Nairobi, an MBA in Business and Administration and a degree in Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option) both from the University of Nairobi and a Diploma in Banking from the Kenya Institute of Banking. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya and a Certified Public Secretary of Kenya.

He is a finance and public policy expert with vast experience in the private sector, government and academia. He has applied his qualifications as a lecturer, finance practitioner and policy leader. Between 2008-2022, he has held senior positions in the government of Kenya as the accounting officer in charge of the national policy think tank (National Economic and Social Council), coordinating the implementation of Kenya’s long term development framework (Vision 2030) and the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Planning and the National Treasury.

Dr. Muia’s wide experience in accounting and governance has seen him serve in various Boards in the capacity of a Board member, company secretary and Chairman. Some of the Boards include: Vision Delivery Board, Lapsset Corridor Development Authority, Central Bank of Kenya, East Africa Development Bank, Equity Bank Kenya Limited, Equity Investment Bank Limited and Action Aid among other entities. He has also served as Alternate Director of the World Bank and Africa Development Bank.

John is a graduate of the Swedish Military Academy and holds a Master of Arts in Economics from Uppsala University and a Master of Public Affairs from Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University. John began his career at McKinsey & Co in Europe and the former Soviet Union, focusing on manufacturing, transportation and infrastructure companies. He then joined the World Bank Private Sector Development Department working on privatisation in Cameroon, Ghana, Malawi, Russia and Ukraine, and was thereafter seconded to the IFC Global Capital Markets Department. Returning to his native Sweden, John built the Export & Project Finance department at Swedbank, and then headed up Structured Finance, Equity Capital Markets, Investor Relations and Corporate Strategy including M&A. In 2006, he joined Kaupthing Bank as Head of Investment Banking and then returned to IFC in 2008. Prior to joining Equity Group in August 2019 as Group Chief Operating Officer, and subsequently Group Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, John was a Manager in the financial sector in Sub-Saharan Africa for the International Finance Corporation, the private sector development arm of the World Bank Group. Before that, he was responsible for IFC’s banking experts and risk management advisory services as global Head of Banking, and before that a Principal Banking Specialist covering subSaharan Africa, stationed in Nairobi since 2008.

Lydia is a seasoned and accomplished professional with over eleven (11) years of local and international experience in Tax, Regulatory and Compliance Services. She holds a Law Degree from the University of Nairobi and is an Advocate of the High Court. She also holds a Masters in Law in Public Finance from the University of Nairobi and is a Certified Secretary and a Certified Public Accountant. Lydia is also a member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Institute of Certified Secretaries of Kenya (ICS) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). Prior to her appointment, she was the Group Head of Tax for Equity Group Holding PLC. Prior to joining EGH, Lydia served as a Senior Manager at Ernst and Young (EY) and prior to that as a Manager at KPMG. Her role as the principal advisor for local and international organizations has equipped her to contribute substantively to the Group’s regulatory compliance.

Moses is the Managing Director of Equity Bank (Kenya) Limited.  He has 22 years of deep and broad experience in delivering sustainable strategic value for organizations throughout his consulting career.  

Before joining Equity Group, Mr. Nyabanda was the Managing Director and Country Senior Partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Rwanda and a member of PwC Eastern Africa leadership team. He has a proven track record of leading effective teams, strategic planning, driving business growth and delivering impactful solutions to businesses and governments in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and the United Kingdom. He has worked closely with Executive Teams, Boards of Directors, and Senior Government officials to co-create trusted solutions to business challenges and has over the years developed trusted relationships and networks across different markets. 

While at PwC, he was responsible for driving operational efficiency including resource planning, digital transformation, innovation, and cost management at PwC Eastern Africa. At Equity Group, Mr Nyabanda is a key member of the executive team who has demonstrated commitment to the Group's corporate philosophies and customer value creation. Throughout his career, Mr. Nyabanda has distinguished himself as a disciplined and thorough professional, demonstrating exceptional leadership in promoting robust control environments and productivity. 

Waweru holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and Strategic Management and a Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) from the University of Nairobi. He is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a Certified Public Secretary (Kenya), a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK), a Commissioner for Oaths, and a Notary Public.

In addition to his legal and governance expertise, Waweru has undertaken advanced leadership and management training, including the Fast Forward Leadership Programme, Trustee Development Program Kenya, and various executive leadership courses. He has also been recognized with industry awards, including the prestigious Company Secretary of the Year Award by ICPSK.

Waweru is an accomplished corporate lawyer and business leader with over 27 years of experience in legal affairs, governance, financial services, risk management, and regulatory compliance. He has a proven track record in driving business transformation, managing complex legal matters, and fostering corporate growth.

Before joining Equity Bank (Kenya) Limited, Waweru held leadership positions at NCBA Group PLC, NIC Bank Kenya PLC, Barclays Bank of Kenya Limited, and Uchumi Supermarkets Limited, where he played a key role in major corporate transactions, including mergers, rights issues, corporate governance enhancements, and legal risk management strategies. His extensive expertise spans banking and financial services law, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution.

As a strategic advisor to the Board and Management, Waweru is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance, ethical leadership, and regulatory excellence.

Moses holds a Master of Science in Management & Organizational Development from the United States International University – Africa. He is also a graduate of the Global CEO Africa Program from Strathmore Business School in conjunction with Lagos Business School and Yale School of Management, and the Advanced Management Programme from Strathmore Business School in partnership with Lagos Business School and IESE Business School. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, a Diploma in Business Management from the Kenya Institute of Management, and is a Certified Public Accountant graduate.

He is a banker with over 28 years’ experience in Credit Management, Corporate Banking, and Institutional Banking, with the majority of these years spent in senior management roles. Moses is currently the Director, Credit at Equity Bank (Kenya) Limited, responsible for delivering a high-quality asset book and client-centric banking services through fit-for-purpose people, policies, procedures, and products. He also serves as the Chairperson of the Credit Executive Committee and Secretary to the Board Credit Committee.

He previously served as the Group Director, Corporate Banking at Equity Group Holdings Plc and as Director, Corporate Banking at Equity Bank (Kenya) Limited. Prior to joining Equity, he held senior positions in the credit function at African Banking Corporation Ltd and Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Ltd. Moses began his banking career at Trust Bank Ltd in 1997.
Moses has been instrumental in instituting structured functional departments and performance-tracking tools that have driven operational excellence. His leadership and industry contribution were recognized when he was named Corporate Banker of the Year (2020) by Think Business Awards. As a thought leader, he has participated in key industry forums, including serving as a panellist at the 7th Edition of the Connected Banking Summit – East Africa, where he presented on the State of Customer Experience in Banking.

He is passionate about driving transformational banking experiences through:

• Championing inclusive, client-centric banking
• Coaching teams on effective client relationship management and market readiness
• Building capacity to address emerging complexities within the financial sector

Daniel is a seasoned Treasury Specialist and Financial Markets Expert with nearly 20 years of progressive experience in the banking sector. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from Jomo Kenyatta University and a Diploma in Management Information Science from the Kenya School of Management Studies.

Currently serving as the Director, Treasury at Equity Bank Kenya Limited, Daniel has been with the Group for over 17 years, holding diverse roles across Insurance and Treasury in both Kenya and Rwanda. He has a strong track record in treasury management, trading, and financial operations, with deep expertise in optimizing liquidity, managing investment portfolios, and navigating complex foreign exchange environments.

Daniel is known for his strategic decision-making, strong leadership, and ability to build high-performing teams. He is committed to regulatory compliance, transparent reporting, and driving sustainable financial performance. As a trusted advisor at the executive level, he plays a key role in shaping the bank’s treasury strategy.
He is an active member of the Financial Markets Association – Kenya, the Treasurers Forum, and the Market Leaders Forum.

Benard is a seasoned Audit Executive with over 14 years of experience in the financial services sector, having held senior roles in both internal and external audit functions across Africa and the United Kingdom. He holds a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Nairobi. Benard is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). 

Benard possesses a deep understanding of internal control frameworks, risk-based auditing and regulatory requirements, enabling him to lead audit function that focuses on delivering strategic value and enhancing operational efficiency.

His responsibilities include driving risk-based audit strategies, strengthening internal controls and fostering a proactive risk culture across the Bank. He leads a high-performing audit team and works closely with senior management and the Board Audit Committee to deliver insights that support sound decision-making and long-term value creation in the Bank.  

Benard is committed to advancing audit innovation, promoting ethical leadership, and contributing to governance excellence. He is credited for spearheading the automation of audit processes, improving efficiency, and enabling real-time risk monitoring. His ambition is to continue influencing strategic decision-making at board level and championing the integration of emerging technologies in audit and risk management. 

Mwende holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Egerton University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K) and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA).

She is a finance professional with over 18 years’ experience spanning financial management, strategy, assurance, and leadership across the banking and professional services sectors. Mwende currently serves as the Director of Finance at Equity Bank Kenya Limited (EBKL), where she leads financial planning, reporting, and strategic financial management to drive value creation and ensure financial sustainability.

Before joining EBKL, she served as the Regional CFO at Access Bank Kenya PLC, overseeing financial operations across the region. She also held the position of Head of Finance & Strategy at Middle East Bank Kenya Limited. Her earlier career includes extensive audit and assurance experience with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Kenya and the UK, where she progressed from associate to senior manager.

Mwende brings deep expertise in financial governance, strategic leadership, and operational excellence, with a track record of strengthening financial control environments and supporting business growth through sound financial insights and disciplined execution.