Meet the Three Women Shaping Safaricom’s Top Leadership

Safaricom is known for being one of Kenya’s most influential companies, and much of its success comes from the people who lead it. At the very top of the organisation, only three women sit in senior executive positions.

Their names are Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, Florence Nyokabi, and Esther Masese Waititu. Even though they work in different departments, their combined leadership continues to shape the direction and growth of the company.

These three leaders have built their careers over many years, and their stories show how determination, skill, and innovation can open doors in Kenya’s corporate world.

Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi: Driving Consumer Growth

Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi serves as Safaricom’s Chief Consumer Business Officer. She assumed this role in March 2023 after working in the company for nearly two decades. Her journey with Safaricom began in 2007, and since then, she has risen steadily through the ranks.

Fawzia has served in several key positions, including Head of Regional Sales for the Coast region, Head of Consumer Planning and Pricing, Head of Consumer Segments, and Head of Digital Products. In 2021, she became the Mobile Data Tribe Lead, a role that challenged her to push digital innovation to the next level.

Some of her most notable achievements include leading the launch of the MySafaricom App, which crossed over five million downloads in its first year. She also helped introduce and grow projects such as Lipa Mdogo Mdogo, the Bonga loyalty program, and Safaricom’s digital content platforms like Baze Music and Baze Video.

Fawzia holds an MBA in Finance from JKUAT and a First-Class degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Nairobi. Her background, although not originally in telecommunications, has given her a unique approach to consumer needs and product development.

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Florence Nyokabi: Leading Safaricom’s People Strategy

The role of Chief Human Resources Officer at Safaricom is held by Florence Nyokabi. Her work centres on creating a strong workplace culture and managing thousands of employees who drive Safaricom’s daily operations.

Before joining Safaricom, Florence built a successful HR career across Africa. She served as Managing Director of Human Resources at Standard Chartered Bank for Nigeria and West Africa, where she oversaw HR functions in six different markets. She also worked in senior leadership roles at NCBA Group, KTN, and KPMG.

Her leadership has earned her recognition both in Kenya and across the continent, including awards such as Top 40 Under 40 and Africa’s HR Personality of the Year.

Florence holds an MBA in Human Resources and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Nairobi. She also completed a specialized Brain-Based Coaching program from the NeuroLeadership Institute in the United Kingdom.

Esther Masese Waititu: Powering M-PESA’s Financial Innovation

Esther Masese Waititu serves as the Chief Financial Services Officer, a position she took up in February 2023. Her job involves driving Safaricom’s entire financial services strategy, including the well-known M-PESA platform.

With more than 15 years of experience in corporate banking and product development, Esther has worked with major banks such as Commercial Bank of Africa, Standard Chartered, Stanbic, and KCB Group, where she was Director of Corporate Banking.

Under her leadership, M-PESA has expanded from a simple mobile payments tool into a full digital financial ecosystem. This includes insurance products, savings solutions, digital credit, and investment platforms. Projects like the M-PESA SuperApp, Ziidi Investments, and M-PESA Ratiba have strengthened Safaricom’s position as a leader in fintech across Africa.

Esther holds an MBA from the University of Liverpool and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton.