Safaricom PLC’s top leadership includes only three women, who sit alongside nine men at the highest level of management.
The trio: Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, the Chief Consumer Business Officer; Florence Nyokabi, currently serving as the Chief Human Resources Officer; and Esther Masese Waititu, the Chief Financial Services Officer.
They bring extensive experience and proven expertise that drive strategic growth and foster innovation in their areas of leadership.
Fawzia Ali-Kimathi Career and Education Background
Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi is the Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom, a role she has held since March 2023.
She has over two decades of commercial experience spanning the telecommunications sector.
Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi began her journey with Safaricom in 2007 as a Senior Manager and has since risen through the ranks.
She has held several pivotal roles, including Head of Regional Sales & Operations (Coast), Head of Consumer Planning and Pricing, Head of Consumer Segments, and Head of Digital Products and Services.
In 2021, Fawzia was appointed Mobile Data Tribe Lead, where she played a key role in driving digital innovation and accelerating data adoption across Safaricom’s customer base.
She has been instrumental in launching and scaling major platforms, notably the MySafaricom App, which achieved over 5 million downloads in its inaugural year.
Beyond this, she has championed initiatives such as Lipa Mdogo Mdogo to expand smartphone access, revitalized the Bonga loyalty program, and led the rollout of digital content services, including Baze Video and Baze Music.
She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Finance option from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), completed between 2009 and 2010.
Fawzia also earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, specializing in Food Science and Technology, from the University of Nairobi, graduating with First Class Honours between 1992 and 1996.
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Florence Nyokabi
Florence Nyokabi serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Safaricom PLC.
Before joining Safaricom, Nyokabi held the position of Managing Director, Human Resources at Standard Chartered Bank in Nigeria and West Africa, overseeing HR operations across six markets.
Her earlier career includes leadership roles at Kenya Television Network, NCBA Group, and KPMG, where she rose to the position of Director of HR and Administration for Kenya and Eastern Africa.
Nyokabi’s achievements have earned her recognition as a Top 40 Under 40 Leader in Kenya and the HR Personality of the Year in Africa.
Florence Nyokabi completed a Brain-Based Coaching Skills program at the NeuroLeadership Institute UK from January 2023 to May 2023.
She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resources from the University of Nairobi, which she completed between 2005 and 2008.
Nyokabi holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) in Marketing, earned in 2004 from the University of Nairobi.
Additionally, she earned a Higher Diploma in HR Management from the Kenya Institute of Management between 1999 and 2001.
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Esther Masese
Esther Masese Waititu joined Safaricom PLC in February 2023 as Chief Financial Services Officer, overseeing the company’s Financial Services division.
She has over 15 years of experience in the financial sector, which includes corporate banking, product development, and strategic leadership across multiple markets.
Her career spans from leading institutions such as Commercial Bank of Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic Bank, and KCB Group, where she served as Director of Corporate Banking before joining Safaricom.
Esther has been pivotal in transforming M-PESA from a mobile payment platform into a comprehensive digital financial ecosystem.
Under her leadership, M-PESA now offers a wide range of services, including savings, insurance, credit, and investment products.
Notable innovations include the M-PESA SuperApp with over 80 mini-apps, the Ziidi Investment Platform featuring Ziidi Shariah and Ziidi MMF with more than 1 million active investors, M-PESA Ratiba, Kenya’s first mobile money standing order service, and expanded credit solutions for individuals, enterprises, and the public sector.
Esther Masese Waititu holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Business Administration and Management from the University of Liverpool, where she completed in 2017.
She also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, graduating in 1999.
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