Abraham Ongenge Appointed Acting CEO of Stanbic Bank Kenya
Abraham Ongenge has been appointed Acting Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank Kenya Limited effective March 1, 2026, subject to regulatory approval, as the lender undertakes a leadership transition involving senior executives within the Standard Bank Group.
Ongenge steps into the acting role as Joshua Oigara moves to the top position at Stanbic Holdings Plc following the retirement of Patrick Mweheire, who led the group’s Kenyan operations for nearly six years.
The transition places Ongenge in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Kenyan banking subsidiary while the holding company completes the regulatory processes associated with the executive changes.
Leadership Changes at Stanbic
Mweheire retired as Chief Executive and Director of Stanbic Holdings Plc on February 28, 2026, ending a tenure that began in March 2020. During his time in the role, he steered the bank through the COVID-19 pandemic and oversaw the expansion of its operations in Kenya.
He remains within the Standard Bank Group in a senior executive role.
Oigara, who previously served as Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank Kenya, was elevated to Chief Executive of Stanbic Holdings Plc effective March 1, 2026. He will continue serving as Regional Chief Executive for East Africa, overseeing operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Malawi and Ethiopia.
Ongenge’s Mandate
With Oigara moving to the holding company level, Ongenge will lead Stanbic Bank Kenya in an acting capacity and report directly to him.
His mandate includes maintaining operational continuity while supporting the bank’s personal and private banking franchise, an area he has overseen since November 2023 as Head of Personal and Private Banking.
The appointment places a long-serving Standard Bank executive at the helm of the Kenyan subsidiary during the transition period.
Career Across the Standard Bank Network
Ongenge has spent most of his career within the Standard Bank Group, holding roles in finance and business leadership across several African markets.
He began his career as a financial accountant and later advanced to the position of Chief Finance and Value Officer. His experience includes assignments in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, and he has also served as finance director at a local bank.
The roles provided exposure to corporate finance, strategic planning and retail banking operations within the group’s regional network.
Academic and Professional Background
Ongenge holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance from University of Nairobi, graduating with First Class Honours.
He is a Certified Public Accountant in Kenya and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya. He also holds the Certified Public Accountant designation in Uganda.
In addition to his accounting credentials, Ongenge has completed executive training programs including the Digital Strategies for Business certificate at Columbia Business School, the Advanced Management Program at Strathmore Business School and executive studies at IESE Business School in Spain.
Regional Strategy
The leadership changes at Stanbic are part of a management reorganisation within the Standard Bank Group’s East African operations. With Oigara now serving both as Stanbic Holdings Plc CEO and Regional Chief Executive for East Africa, the group is consolidating oversight of its subsidiaries in the region.
The structure places the Kenyan holding company at the center of operations spanning Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Malawi and Ethiopia.
The transition also comes as the group prepares for the planned retirement of Standard Bank Group Chief Executive Simpiwe Tshabalala at the end of 2027, part of the bank’s longer-term succession planning process.
Jefferson Wachira is a writer at Africa Digest News, specializing in banking and finance trends, and their impact on African economies.
