WASREB Names New CEO

The Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) has announced the appointment of Leparan Tialal as its new Chief Executive Officer.

In a statement on Wednesday, September 2, WASREB said Tialal joins the body with 25 years of professional experience, including more than a decade in senior management positions within Kenya’s public sector.

"Mr. Leparan is a seasoned Corporate Performance and Human Resource leader with 25 years of professional experience, including over a decade in senior management within Kenya’s public sector," the statement read.

According to WASREB, Leparan has extensive expertise in strategic leadership, performance management, human resource management, governance, institutional transformation and stakeholder engagement.

"He brings extensive expertise in strategic leadership, performance management, human resource management, governance, institutional transformation, and stakeholder engagement, with a strong track record of aligning people, policy and performance to deliver sustainable organisational results," the statement added.

Tialal is currently a PhD Candidate in Leadership and Governance.

He holds a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management and a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Administration.

Tialal is also a Certified Human Resource Professional, Licensed HR Practitioner and Member of the Institute of Human Resource Management-Kenya (IHRM-K). 

In addition, he is a Certified Pensions Trustee and Certified Quality Management Systems Auditor.

"The Board welcomes Mr. Leparan to the organisation and looks forward to his leadership in advancing the institution’s strategic priorities and mandate," the statement further read.

Elsewhere, 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.

"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.

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.