Commercial International Bank (CIB) Kenya has appointed banker Tirus Mwithiga as its new chief executive officer, as the lender moves into what it describes as the second phase of its growth in the Kenyan market.
Mwithiga replaces Abhinav Nehra, who assumed the role in April 2024 and was formally approved by the CBK in January 2025.
CIB said the leadership change comes as the bank enters a new phase of strategic execution, with a focus on strengthening management capacity to deliver its priorities and support sustainable growth.
Mwithiga joins CIB Kenya from NCBA Group, where he served as director of corporate and investment banking advisory.
“CIB is pleased to announce the appointment of Tirus Mwithiga as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). His appointment will commence in February 2026, subject to regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE),” the lender said in a statement.
He brings more than 35 years of experience in the banking sector, having held senior executive roles across several leading Kenyan financial institutions.
A qualified Chartered Banker, Mwithiga holds an MBA from Bangor University in the United Kingdom.
Over the course of his career, he has led both corporate and retail banking businesses, with responsibilities spanning strategy execution, business transformation, portfolio management and people development.
The appointment, which takes effect in February 2026, is subject to regulatory approval by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE).
He has also worked with international banks across the East African region and in Singapore, experience that CIB said has contributed to his deep understanding of regional and global banking markets.
CIB expressed confidence that Mwithiga’s leadership and market expertise would play a key role in advancing the bank’s strategic objectives and strengthening its competitive position in Kenya.
CIB Kenya is a subsidiary of Commercial International Bank of Egypt, one of the country’s largest private lenders.
The bank entered the Kenyan market in 2020 and gained a stronger foothold following CIB Egypt’s acquisition of Mayfair Bank.
Since then, CIB Kenya has been expanding its footprint, with a growing focus on retail and corporate banking as it seeks to build scale and deepen its presence in the local financial sector.
by JACKTONE LAWI
