Visa appoints former Airtel Money Kenya MD as VP for East Africa

Visa has appointed Anne Kinuthia Otieno, former managing director of Airtel Money Kenya, as its Vice President and Head of East Africa, effective August 4, 2026. She will be based in Nairobi and oversee Visa’s operations across seven East African markets, focusing on growing digital payments, deepening partnerships with financial institutions and other partners, and expanding financial inclusion across the region.

Otieno joined Airtel Money Kenya in August 2021 after more than a decade in banking, including senior roles at Absa Group and Barclays Bank. During her tenure, Airtel Money’s market share rose from 3.1% of Kenya’s mobile money subscriptions in September 2021 to 10.9% by March 2026, while M‑PESA’s share fell from 96.8% to 89.1% over the same period. After her departure, Airtel Money named Bonke Michael, a longtime company employee, as acting managing director.

Visa’s appointment comes as the company advances its five‑year, $1 billion commitment to build resilient and inclusive economies across Africa. The firm has already opened its first African data centre in Johannesburg and is exploring stablecoin‑based settlement solutions.

For readers in East Africa’s fintech, banking or business communities, this move signals potential new partnership opportunities, upcoming digital payment products, and deeper integration of Visa’s services with local financial ecosystems. Consider how these developments might affect your access to digital payments, business collaborations, or career prospects in the region.

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/07/30/visa-appoints-ex-airtel-money-kenya-chief-as-east-africa-head/