Centum Group Chief Executive Officer James Mworia has been appointed the founding Chief Executive Officer of the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), a state-backed entity created to mobilize capital for major infrastructure projects across the country.
In announcing the appointment, the NIF Board said Mworia will lead the establishment of the new institution and oversee the delivery of its mandate to identify, develop, and finance infrastructure projects.
The appointment took effect on September 7, 2026, following a competitive recruitment process.
The National Infrastructure Fund was established under the National Infrastructure Fund Act, 2026, to attract private investment into infrastructure and reduce the government’s reliance on borrowing to finance commercially viable projects.
The fund will focus on transport, logistics, energy, ICT, water, and agriculture.
NIF Appoints Founding CEO
Mworia brings more than 25 years of experience in investment management, enterprise development and capital allocation.
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He has led Centum Investment Company Plc for 17 years and is credited with transforming the company into one of East Africa’s leading investment firms.
Under his leadership, Centum expanded its footprint across real estate, banking, education, energy and manufacturing. The NIF Board said Mworia had built a strong record in creating investment institutions, developing enterprises and bringing investable assets to market, credentials it believes will be crucial in delivering the fund’s ambitious mandate.
The board noted that shareholders’ funds at Centum grew by approximately 11 times during Mworia’s tenure without the firm raising additional shareholder equity at the holding company level.
It also cited his experience in establishing, acquiring and transforming enterprises across multiple sectors.
The appointment comes barely two months after Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi appointed Mworia to the National Infrastructure Fund Board alongside five other members charged with overseeing the fund’s governance and implementation framework.
The government views the fund as a key tool for financing large-scale development projects while easing pressure on the country’s debt burden.
Projects expected to benefit from the initiative include the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway to Malaba (SGR), the construction of dual carriageways, and investment in clean energy projects.
NIF is expected to operate on an investment and capital-recycling model that turns infrastructure needs into bankable projects capable of attracting local and international investors.
Successful projects will eventually be transitioned to long-term owners or capital markets, allowing the fund to recycle capital into new developments.
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According to the board, the model is intended to deepen Kenya’s capital markets while creating a sustainable funding source for strategic national infrastructure.
James Mworia’s Humble Beginnings
James Mworia’s rise to the top of Kenya’s corporate world began from humble beginnings.
Born in 1978, Mworia attended Alliance High School before studying law at the University of Nairobi.
Despite his law degree and professional accounting qualifications, he joined Centum Investment Company in 2001 as a filing clerk, an entry-level role that involved handling and organizing company documents.
His determination and understanding of investment management saw him rise through the ranks.
In 2005, he became Centum’s Chief Investment Officer before moving to TransCentury Investments as Head of Investments in 2006.
Two years later, at just 30, he returned to Centum as Chief Executive Officer, becoming one of the youngest CEOs of a listed company in Kenya.
He also served as Chancellor of Machakos University and held board positions at organisations including the Nairobi Securities Exchange and Sidian Bank.
Thomas Omondi-Achola Appointed
Centum has named Thomas Omondi-Achola as Acting Group Chief Executive Officer following Mworia’s departure.
The appointment took effect immediately as part of the company’s succession plan to ensure continuity in leadership and strategy.
Omondi-Achola, who has served as Group Chief Operating Officer and Partner for Portfolio Operations since joining Centum in 2018, brings more than 25 years of experience in corporate leadership, strategy and business transformation.
Before joining Centum, he held senior roles at Kenya Airways, including Chief Transformation Officer and General Manager of Jambojet, and also played a key role in the turnaround of Sidian Bank.
Centum said his extensive experience in portfolio management, operational excellence and value creation positions him to steer the investment firm into its next phase as it seeks to build on the growth achieved during Mworia’s nearly 18-year tenure.
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