John Mwendwa Appointed as CEO of Kenya Investment Authority”
The Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest) Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Mr. John Mwendwa,as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 2025.
KenInvest, a statutory body established in 2004, plays a pivotal role in promoting and facilitating investments in Kenya. Mr. Mwendwa’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Authority continues to position Kenya as a premier global investment destination.
With over 20 years of experience spanning both public and private sectors, Mr. Mwendwa is celebrated for spearheading Kenya’s Ease of Doing Business agenda, which saw the country’s global ranking improve significantly from 136th in 2013 to 56th in 2019.
His tenure has been marked by extensive legal and regulatory reforms and the facilitation of investment deals worth nearly $1.5 billion in the past 18 months.Mr. Mwendwa’s career includes leadership roles in the Ministries of Investments, Trade & Industry, East African Community and Industrialization and Enterprise Development, as well as senior positions within Barclays Group in Kenya and South Africa.
Most recently, he served in the President’s Strategy and Execution Office, where he was instrumental in driving key economic initiatives.
Speaking during the CEO appointment, KenInvest Board Chairperson, Sally Mahihu, expressed her confidence in Mr. Mwendwa’s leadership.
“We are delighted to appoint John Mwendwa as the new CEO of KenInvest. His extensive experience and deep understanding of Kenya’s investment and business climate will be invaluable in advancing our mission to attract and support both domestic and foreign investments. Under his leadership, KenInvest will continue to strengthen Kenya’s position as a global investment hub.”she said.
Making his remarks,Mr. Mwendwa expressed his enthusiasm for the role, pledging to drive investment growth and contribute to Kenya’s economic transformation.
“I am honored to be appointed to this role and am committed to leveraging my experience in the public and private sectors to drive investment growth and contribute to Kenya’s ongoing economic transformation.”he said.
A highly qualified professional, Mr. Mwendwa holds a Master’s degree in Finance from Strathmore University and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Finance) from Kenyatta University. He has completed executive leadership programs at the University of Oxford and Harvard University and is affiliated with the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments (CISI, UK) and the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM).
KenInvest’s new leadership marks a strategic step toward reinforcing Kenya’s competitiveness as an investment powerhouse, bolstered by Mr. Mwendwa’s proven track record and leadership expertise.
