Centum Investment Company PLC, the Nairobi Securities Exchange–listed group, has appointed Thomas Omondi-Achola as acting chief executive officer following the departure of James Mworia, who has stepped down to chair Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund (NIF).

Omondi-Achola, who has served as Centum’s group chief operating officer and partner for portfolio operations at Centum Capital Partners since 2018, takes charge of the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed investment group after Mworia’s 18-year tenure.

The board said Monday that Omondi-Achola brings more than 25 years of senior executive experience, including work in strategy, business transformation, turnarounds, value creation and exits involving more than 15 investee companies.

Omondi’s executive experience

Before joining Centum, Omondi-Achola was chief transformation officer at Sidian Bank. He has also held several board positions, including at Longhorn Publishers PLC, Nabo Capital, Jafari Credit, Tribus Solutions Group, Tier Data and Greenblade Growers.

Much of his career was spent at Kenya Airways, where he held a series of senior positions over more than 13 years. His roles included chief transformation officer, director of strategy and performance management, acting chief commercial officer, general manager of Jambojet, head of operations control, head of HR business partners and head of IT development.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and an MBA in finance from the University of Nairobi, as well as an MBA in general management from IESE Business School in Spain.

Mworia leaves Centum

Mworia’s move to NIF marks the end of an 18-year period in which he helped reshape Centum from a local investment company into one of East Africa’s largest diversified investment groups.

According to the board, Centum’s total assets increased from Ksh 4 billion ($30.9 million) in December 2008, when the company was operating with a Ksh 200 million ($1.5 million) overdraft, to about Ksh 79.4 billion ($613.4 million).

The board also credited Mworia with retiring KSh20 billion ($154.5 million) in Group debt, including KSh16 billion ($123.6 million) at the Centum PLC level. The debt reduction eliminated holding-company leverage and reduced refinancing risk, according to the board.

During his tenure, Centum also established strategic platforms and restructured major investments, including Vipingo SEZ, Pearl Marina and TRIFIC SEZ, without requiring additional equity, the board said.

At NIF, Mworia will be responsible for helping establish the fund as a national investment institution and developing the systems, governance structures, investment framework and project pipeline needed to carry out its mandate.

NIF takes on infrastructure role

President William Ruto signed the National Infrastructure Fund Act, 2026, into law March 9, allowing the government to seek up to Ksh 5 trillion ($38.6 billion) over the next decade through privatization and other financing mechanisms.

The fund is expected to support projects including the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, extension of the Standard Gauge Railway to Malaba, construction of about 2,500 kilometers of dual highways and development of 10,000 megawatts of clean-energy capacity.

Centum expands across key African sectors

Centum, which is listed on the Nairobi and Uganda securities exchanges, has investments across real estate, private equity, financial services, consumer goods, agribusiness and energy.

The company has long been associated with the late Kenyan businessman Chris Kirubi. After his death in 2021, interests connected to his holdings passed to his heirs, Mary-Ann Musangi and Robert Kirubi.