Tuesday 01st September, 2026 08:36 PM|
Habil Waswani is stepping into the cockpit of Kenya Airways’ corporate leadership at a defining moment for the national carrier, bringing more than two decades of experience in law, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance to the acting CEO role.
Kenya Airways has appointed Waswani as its Acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 15, 2026, following the resignation of Captain George Kamal.
But unlike his predecessor, whose career was rooted in aviation operations, Waswani arrives at the airline’s top office from the corporate and legal side of the business.
Until his appointment, Waswani served as Kenya Airways’ Company Secretary and Director of Legal Services and Regulatory Compliance, placing him at the centre of the airline’s corporate governance, regulatory affairs and legal strategy.
The appointment marks a significant transition for the national carrier as it continues implementing an ambitious turnaround strategy aimed at restoring operational reliability, sustainable profitability and long-term growth.
More than two decades in corporate law
Waswani is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with more than 20 years of experience in corporate and commercial law.
Before joining Kenya Airways, he held senior positions in some of Kenya’s major listed financial institutions, including National Bank of Kenya, Kenya Reinsurance Corporation and Diamond Trust Bank Kenya.
His career has therefore traversed banking, insurance and aviation — sectors characterised by complex regulations, significant financial risks and intense corporate governance requirements.
He joined Kenya Airways in March 2021, initially taking charge of legal, risk and compliance matters before becoming a key figure in the airline’s corporate leadership structure.
At KQ, Waswani has overseen aviation and airline-related legal matters alongside commercial and corporate law, giving him an insider’s understanding of the legal and regulatory environment surrounding one of Africa’s most recognisable airlines.
The man behind KQ’s legal and governance machinery
While Waswani may not have been as publicly visible as Kenya Airways’ operational executives, his role has placed him close to some of the airline’s most critical corporate decisions.
As Company Secretary, he has worked closely with the Board of Directors, handling governance processes and regulatory obligations for the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed company.
Kenya Airways’ 2024 annual report lists Waswani as the company’s Company Secretary, a position that puts him at the intersection of management, the board, shareholders and regulators.
His legal leadership at KQ also earned regional recognition.
In 2024, Waswani was named among legal professionals recognised in the Legal 500 GC Power List East Africa. Kenya Airways said the recognition reflected his contribution across banking, insurance and aviation.
During that period, Waswani also spoke about restructuring the airline’s legal operations after joining the company in 2021, including building an internal team capable of handling KQ’s global operations and reducing reliance on outsourced legal services.
Academic and professional credentials
Waswani’s academic background combines law, business and corporate governance.
He holds:
- A Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi;
- A Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law;
- A Global Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the United States International University in collaboration with Columbia Business School in New York.
He is also a Certified Public Secretary and a member of professional bodies including the Law Society of Kenya, the Institute of Certified Secretaries of Kenya and the Institute of Directors.
The combination of legal and business training could prove significant as he takes charge of an airline whose challenges extend beyond flight operations to finance, governance, debt, regulation and investor confidence.
Taking over at a crucial moment
Waswani’s appointment comes amid another leadership transition at Kenya Airways.
He succeeds Captain George Kamal, who resigned from the acting Group Managing Director and CEO position for personal reasons.
Kamal, who had previously served as Chief Operating Officer, will remain with the airline during a 30-day transition period before formally leaving on September 30, 2026.
Waswani will take over on September 15 as the Kenya Airways board conducts a competitive recruitment process for a substantive CEO.
The incoming acting CEO therefore inherits an airline still pursuing a turnaround strategy after years of financial difficulties and operational challenges.
Kenya Airways has said its immediate focus remains improving operational reliability, returning to sustainable positive financial performance and achieving its targeted growth ambitions.
