NAIROBI, Kenya — Former KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka walked away with a Sh131 million compensation package after exiting Kenya Airways at the end of 2025, according to disclosures contained in the airline’s latest annual report.
The payout included pension, terminal dues, and other contractual benefits earned during his final year at the helm of the national carrier.
Business Daily reported that Kilavuka’s total compensation in 2025 represented a 77 pc increase from the Sh74 million he earned in 2024.
According to the airline’s disclosures, the former chief executive received a basic salary of Sh55.6 million alongside Sh75.3 million in pension and additional benefits.
Kenya Airways stated that the non-salary benefits included Sh15 million in terminal benefits and Sh48 million arising from contractual obligations linked to the end of his tenure.
Kilavuka officially exited the airline in December 2025 after serving for six years, making him one of the longest-serving chief executives in the airline’s recent history.
His departure came months after former board chairman Michael Joseph also left the airline, creating a leadership transition at a critical period for the carrier.
Kilavuka took over leadership of Kenya Airways in April 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when global aviation suffered unprecedented disruption due to border closures, grounded fleets, and collapsing passenger demand.
During his tenure, the airline implemented restructuring measures, route optimisation, and cargo expansion strategies aimed at stabilising operations and reducing losses.
The carrier later returned to profitability in 2024, posting a net profit of Sh5.4 billion — its first full-year profit in more than a decade.
However, the airline later slipped back into losses amid aircraft grounding challenges and operational disruptions affecting passenger capacity.
The Kenya Airways board credited Kilavuka with steering the airline through one of the most turbulent periods in global aviation history.
“Allan served with commitment, dedication, honour and diligence, steering the company through the turbulent Covid-19 period,” the airline previously said while announcing his exit.
Following his departure, Chief Operating Officer Captain George Kamal was appointed acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer pending recruitment of a substantive replacement.
