Editor's Review
Kenya Airways has announced the appointment of Habil Waswani as Acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 15.
Kenya Airways has announced the resignation of Capt. George Kamal as Acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, citing personal reasons.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 1, Kenya Airways Chairman Kiprono Kittony said Kamal had served in the airline’s executive leadership, first as Chief Operating Officer before taking over as Acting Group Managing Director and CEO.
The airline said Kamal will remain in service for a 30-day transition period before his formal exit on September 30, 2026.
The board has appointed Company Secretary and Director Legal Services and Regulatory Compliance Habil Waswani as Acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 15, 2026.
"The Board of Directors of Kenya Airways Plc (“KG”) hereby announces the resignation of Capt. George Kamal as the Ag. Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for personal reasons.
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"This follows his service at the airline’s executive leadership initially as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for a period of three (3) years, and subsequently, since 16th December 2026, as the Ag. Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, a position he has held until his resignation," the statement read.
Kittony highlighted Kamal’s contribution to the airline, particularly his role in stabilising operations and guiding the company through leadership changes and its ongoing turnaround strategy.
"During his tenure, Capt. Kamal served with commitment, dedication, honour and diligence, bringing in his immense and expansive expertise and experience in aviation in stabilizing the airline’s operations during his tenure as COO, and subsequently successfully leading the Company through the last executive leadership transition in December 2025, and more recently, leading the executive team in the implementation of the airline’s ongoing turnaround strategy," the statement added.
The board expressed appreciation for Kamal’s service and leadership, noting that he will remain at the airline during the transition before formally leaving at the end of September.
"The Board and management of the Company hereby express their gratitude to Capt. Kamal for his diligence, service, leadership, and dedication to the airline over the years, and wishes him the best in his future endeavours upon his formal exit on 30th September 2026," the statement further read.
Waswani will take over the airline’s executive leadership on an acting basis as the board continues with the recruitment of a substantive Group Managing Director and CEO.
"The Board has appointed Mr. Habil Waswani, the Company Secretary and Director, Legal Services and Regulatory Compliance, as Ag. Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer effective 15th September 2026.
"The Board has already initiated the process to competitively recruit a substantive holder of the position, which is expected to be completed in the near term," the statement noted.
Waswani brings 24 years of experience as a corporate and commercial legal practitioner.
He has worked at Kenya Airways for more than five years, where he has overseen aviation and airline operations-related legal matters as well as commercial and corporate law.
He has also held positions in listed banking and insurance institutions since 2004 and is a Certified Public Secretary.
Waswani holds an LL.B degree from the University of Nairobi, a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law and a Global Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the United States International University in collaboration with Columbia Business School, Columbia University, New York.
He is a member of the Law Society of Kenya, the Institute of Certified Secretaries of Kenya and the Institute of Directors of Kenya.
His contribution to the legal profession has also seen him named in the Legal 500 GC Powerlist, East Africa awards, from 2024 to 2026.
The board said it had confidence in Waswani’s ability to lead the airline during the interim period as the search for a substantive CEO continues.
"The Board fully supports the appointment of Mr. Waswani as he takes over the organisation’s executive leadership during this interim period and wishes him well in the new role," the statement concluded.
This comes weeks after the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) appointed Tom Mulwa as the new board chairman.
In a statement on Thursday, July 2, the NSE said Mulwa’s appointment would take effect on July 13, 2026, taking over from Kitonny, who was retiring from the position after concluding his six-year term.
"Effective 13 July 2026, Mr. Tom Mulwa has been appointed Chairman of the NSE Board, succeeding Mr. Kiprono Kittony, EBS, who retires as Chairman and Independent Non-Executive Director effective 12 July 2026 following six years of distinguished leadership," read the statement in part.
Kitonny joined the NSE board on May 30, 2018, and was appointed chairman on July 13, 2020.
During his tenure, Kitonny led the exchange through a transformative period, driving key reforms that deepened and expanded Kenya's capital markets.
Mulwa, on the other hand, joined the NSE Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director in September 2025 and has more than three decades of financial-services leadership experience.
He is one of the pioneers of Liaison Group, which he joined in 1991 and has led as Chief Executive since 1999.
Mulwa’s experience spans risk and insurance, pension and health administration, and investment advisory.
He also serves as chairman of the Kenya National REITs and is a council member of the Association of Pension Trustees and Administrators of Kenya (APTAK).
