NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has confirmed that a new board will be appointed for Kenya Airways this week as part of efforts to steer the struggling airline toward financial recovery and operational transformation.
Speaking at the Kenya Open 2026 golf tournament on February 22, Ruto described Kenya Airways as “the pride of Africa” and pledged to make the airline his next focus.
“Kenya Airways, the pride of Africa, is our jewel. And I want to tell the good people at Kenya Airways that is going to be my next focus,” he said.
The new board will comprise men and women tasked with driving strategic reforms aimed at reversing years of underperformance and mismanagement. Ruto emphasized that appointments would ensure leaders are capable of transforming the airline as part of broader national reform initiatives.
The announcement follows the exit of former Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka, who left on terminal leave on December 16, 2025, after six years at the helm. To ensure continuity, Chief Operating Officer George Kamal was appointed Acting CEO.
The board is conducting a competitive process to identify a substantive successor.
Kenya Airways faces a deepening financial crisis. The carrier posted a half-year loss of Sh 12.15 billion for H1 2025, reversing a Sh 513 million profit from the same period in 2024, and recording a negative net margin of 16.3 per cent. Revenue fell to Sh 74.5 billion from Sh 91.5 billion the previous year, while operating costs declined slightly to Sh 80.7 billion.
The airline’s balance sheet shows liabilities of Sh309.9 billion against assets of Sh180.3 billion, producing a negative equity position of Sh129.5 billion, up from Sh118.2 billion six months earlier.
In response, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced plans to attract foreign capital of between Sh154.8 billion ($1.2bn) and Sh258 billion ($2bn), with the government prepared to bundle additional assets to entice a strategic investor.
Sh63.1 billion of Kenya Airways’ debt has already been absorbed by the government and will be converted to equity once a partner is secured.
“This is not about a partner who merely injects money, but one who can run a successful airline,” Mbadi said, underscoring the government’s focus on operational turnaround alongside financial support.
The upcoming board appointments mark the first major step in the planned revival of Kenya Airways as the airline seeks to restore its status as a leading carrier in Africa while addressing mounting debt and operational challenges.
