Absa executives back Kenya’s role as a regional financial hub

Absa Group Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Fihla, three-day working visit to Kenya was marked by engagements with senior government officials, regulators, and leaders from the business and financial services sectors.

During the visit, Fihla met public and private sector stakeholders to discuss priorities affecting the banking industry and the wider economy, including access to credit, SME growth, trade and infrastructure financing, and the role of financial institutions in supporting economic activity across East Africa.

“This visit was about engaging directly with stakeholders and customers to better understand the realities they are navigating,” said Fihla. “That understanding wss central to how we live our purpose of empowering Africa’s tomorrow by supporting businesses and households through different economic cycles.”

Fihla was accompanied by Charles Russon, Group Executive: Africa Regions, and Saviour Chibiya, Regional Executive: East Africa. The visit reflects Absa’s commitment to continued investment in banking infrastructure and digitisation to support customers and improve efficiency.

In the recent past, Absa has invested significantly in modernising its technology platforms, including approximately KSh4 billion invested in technology infrastructure that is aimed at strengthening digital services, system resilience, and operational efficiency in Kenya.

Absa Bank Kenya Managing Director & CEO, Abdi Mohamed, noted that Kenya continues to play a central role in Absa Group’s regional strategy. He added that the visit reaffirmed the importance of Kenya as a base for supporting regional trade, investment, and cross-border activity.

Engagements during the visit included discussions with representatives from key industries, the financial sector, and the SME ecosystem, reflecting Absa’s focus on sectors that underpin durable economic activity such as agriculture, trade, infrastructure, digital enterprise, and small and medium-sized businesses.

Fihla emphasised on the importance of collaboration between banks, government, and regulators in building a stable and resilient financial system, noting that constructive engagement and regulatory clarity are important in sustaining investment and long-term planning.

The visit included internal engagements with Absa leadership and teams to reinforce the Group’s customer-led approach and its focus on consistent execution, responsible capital allocation, and strong local delivery across Kenya and the wider East Africa region.

As Absa operates across East Africa, the Group remains focused on combining regional and global banking capability with deep local understanding, supported by strong leadership and talent depth, reflected in its Top Employer certification across key markets.