The Board of Directors of the Kenya Investment Authority (Keninvest) has appointed John Mwendwa as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Authority with effect from January 2025.

Keninvest in a press statement dated Tuesday, December 17, 2024, that was shared by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya on Wednesday, Dember 18, says Mwendwa has over 20 years of experience in the public and private sector.

“The Board of Directors of the Kenya Investment Authority (Keninvest) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. John Mwendwa, OGW, as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, effective January 2025. Mr. Mwendwa brings over 20 years of experience in the public and private sector,” the statement reads in part.

Mwendwa has been recognised for his role in leading the country’s ease of doing business, a move that improved the Kenya’s global ranking from 136th in 2013 to 56th in 2019.

Mwendwa’s career

He has also been hailed for his illustrious career, having initiated numerous legal and regulatory reforms and facilitated various investment transactions over the past nine years.

“He is renowned for leading Kenya’s Ease of Doing Business agenda, which significantly improved the country’s global ranking from 136th in 2013 to 56th in 2019. Over the past nine years, he has initiated numerous legal and regulatory reforms and facilitated investment transactions totaling nearly $1.5 billion in the last 18 months,” Keninvest stated.

Keninvest says Mwendwa has also worked across the Ministries of Investments, Trade and Industry, East African Community and Industrialization and Enterprise Development.

He was previously in senior roles of then Barclays Group in Kenya and South Africa. Most recently, he served at the President’s Strategy and Execution Office.

Keninvest Board Chairperson Sally Mahihu expressed the Board’s full confidence in 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 KenInvest’s mission to attract and support both domestic and foreign investments. We are confident that under his leadership, Keninvest will continue to strengthen Kenya’s position as a global investment hub,” she said.

Mwendwa while acknowledging his appointment promised to drive investment growth and contribute to Kenya’s ongoing 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,” Mwendwa said.

Mwendwa’s professional qualification

Mwendwa holds a Master’s degree in Finance from Strathmore University and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Finance) from Kenyatta University.

He has also received executive leadership training from the University of Oxford (UK) and Harvard University (USA).

His professional affiliations include membership in the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (CISI, UK) and the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM).