Meet Anne Muraya: First female CEO to lead Deloitte East Africa

Anne Muraya, a Kenyan accountant and business executive, was appointed chief executive officer of Deloitte East Africa, becoming the first woman to hold the role in the firm’s regional history. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in the leadership of one of East Africa’s largest professional services firms.

Effective June 1, 2022, she assumed oversight of Deloitte’s operations across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Somalia. She also represents East Africa on Deloitte’s Africa Executive Committee, which helps shape strategic priorities for the continent and monitors execution across markets.

Muraya’s career built over decades 

Muraya’s rise was not sudden. She joined Deloitte in 1994 as an auditor in Nairobi and built her career step by step, working across banking, manufacturing, agriculture and retail. Colleagues describe her path as deliberate—grounded in technical depth and a clear understanding of clients’ needs. 

She became a partner in 2009, later serving as National Professional Practice Director for East Africa, where she led consultations on audit standards and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). 

In 2017, she became East Africa Audit Leader, the first woman to hold the position. She later took on a broader regional responsibility in 2021 as Africa Managing Partner for Responsible Business and Public Policy. During that period, she also served on Deloitte Africa’s Audit & Assurance Executive Committee. 

Her influence has extended beyond the firm. Muraya has served on Deloitte’s global advisory council, a small group of partners selected to advise the global chief executive. She has also contributed to the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, where she later earned fellowship in recognition of her work in the profession.

Leadership in a changing market 

Since taking over as CEO, Muraya has steered Deloitte East Africa through a period marked by rising demand for advisory services, shifting regulation and growing interest in sustainability. Under her leadership, the firm has expanded its focus on climate-related advisory, including the rollout of GreenLight Solution, a platform designed to help organizations map paths toward lower emissions. 

The firm has also invested in skills development. In 2025, Deloitte East Africa hosted IFRS workshops aimed at strengthening corporate reporting across the region, drawing finance professionals and industry leaders. 

Recognition has followed. The firm was named Financial Advisor of the Year at the East Africa Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (EAVCA) awards in 2025, reflecting its role in some of the region’s high-profile transactions. Deloitte has also maintained strong global rankings in tax and transfer pricing, reinforcing its position in advisory work. 

The firm also supported the launch of Chapter Zero Kenya, part of a global network focused on climate governance for board directors and senior executives across more than 70 countries. 

In March 2026, Deloitte East Africa hosted a tax accounting and reporting training session in Nairobi, bringing together finance professionals and tax practitioners to discuss evolving compliance requirements and reporting frameworks.

Deloitte connecting local work to a global network 

Deloitte East Africa operates as part of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a network that spans more than 150 countries and employs over 400,000 people. The global firm traces its roots back more than 175 years, growing into one of the largest professional services organizations in the world, serving many of the Fortune Global 500. 

Within that network, the East African practice has developed its own footprint. With offices in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kampala and Mombasa, and a team of partners and staff across the region, the firm advises both public and private sector clients on audit, tax and consulting work. 

Muraya’s role sits at the intersection of those local and global demands, balancing the realities of East African markets with expectations from a global brand. In recent weeks, she has drawn recognition from regional business groups Africapitol Ventures, reflecting her growing visibility beyond the firm. 

For Muraya, the focus remains steady: building a business that responds to clients while developing the next generation of professionals. It is a long way from her early days as a young auditor in Nairobi, but the approach, those who have worked with her say, has stayed much the same—measured, practical and grounded in experience.