Centum CEO James Mworia Lands New Govt Role

Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) has appointed Centum Investment Company CEO and Managing Director James Mworia, MBS, as its founding Chief Executive Officer.

Mworia will take up the position on September 7, 2026, following a competitive recruitment process, according to an announcement by the NIF Board.

As the founding CEO, he will be responsible for establishing the NIF as a credible national investment institution and building the infrastructure enterprises needed to deliver its mandate.

The National Infrastructure Fund Act, 2026, mandates NIF to scale up and accelerate infrastructure development in Kenya.

The Fund will focus on critical infrastructure needs in transport and logistics, energy, ICT, water and agriculture.

Its goal is to reduce reliance on public debt financing for commercially viable infrastructure while attracting private and non-traditional sources of capital.

James Mworia to Drive NIF’s Investment Approach

Further, it plans to turn identified infrastructure needs into financeable projects, investable assets and successful enterprises.

It will mobilise domestic and international capital and establish professionally governed enterprises capable of attracting long-term investors.

NIF will also support projects throughout their development cycle, from turning national priorities into bankable projects to scaling ventures into investable infrastructure assets.

Successful asset realisations will help deepen Kenya’s capital markets and recycle capital into future generations of critical infrastructure.

Mworia Brings More than 25 Years of Experience

The NIF Board said Mworia brings more than 25 years of professional experience in investment management, enterprise development and capital allocation.

He has served as Group CEO and Managing Director of Centum Investment Company Plc, one of East Africa’s leading publicly listed investment companies, for 17 years.

During his tenure, he helped build Centum into an established investment, development and capital-allocation institution.

According to the NIF, he grew shareholders’ funds to approximately 11 times their opening value without raising additional shareholder equity at the holding-company level.

The Board said his experience in building investment institutions and viable enterprises makes him well suited to lead NIF.

Also Read: Centum Investment Company Appoints Mary Wangari Wamae as Independent Non-Executive Director

Focus on Building and Recycling Capital

Mworia has experience across several stages of the investment cycle, including investment origination, evaluation, structuring and execution.

He has also led the establishment, acquisition and transformation of enterprises and investment platforms across multiple industries in East Africa.

His experience includes assembling management teams, establishing governance and operating systems, mobilising financing, active portfolio management, value creation and preparing enterprises for long-term ownership or successful exit.

The Board said this experience will help NIF build institutions under capital constraints, mobilise third-party funding, allocate capital effectively and develop viable operating enterprises.

Capital Markets Experience

Mworia has also served on the boards of the Nairobi Securities Exchange and the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation.

The NIF said he has experience mobilising financing from commercial banks, development finance institutions, debt capital markets, institutional investors and strategic partners.

His role at NIF will include supporting the fund’s efforts to attract long-term investment into Kenya and bring mature infrastructure enterprises to the market.

Also Read: Milk Shortage: Kenya Turns to Uganda and Neighbours to Fill Supply Gap

His First Priorities at NIF

The Board said Mworia’s initial priorities will include establishing NIF’s organisation, people systems and institutional culture.

He will also oversee the development of governance, investment and risk-management frameworks, while building a credible and investable project pipeline.

Other priorities will include mobilising co-investment capital and progressing priority projects through rigorous appraisal, structuring and execution.

The NIF said it will pursue its mandate with “commercial discipline, professionalism, integrity, transparency and accountability” while building partnerships with government, investors, financiers, developers, regulators and communities.

Academic and Professional Background

Mworia holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

He is also a Certified Public Accountant, a Chartered Global Management Accountant and a CFA charterholder.

He is a member of the Law Society of Kenya, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the CFA Institute.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates.

Photo of President William Ruto while putting an official stamp on the NIF funding bill at State House on March 9, 2026
PHOTO/PCS