Over 300 executives attended the inaugural “Oscars of Finance” in Nairobi and bore witness to a dazzling celebration of professional excellence.
Executive Communities is proud to celebrate the overwhelming success of the inaugural CFO Awards in East Africa. This event, held at the glamorous Emara Ole Sereni in Nairobi on 27 November, recognised excellence, innovation and leadership among the region’s finance leadership.
The black-tie gala truly lived up to its informal title as the “Oscars of Finance”, offering connection, laughs, entertainment and celebration. Guests enjoyed fine dining, refreshing drinks, shared laughter, and “good vibes all around”, making it an unforgettable night.
The atmosphere was electric, enhanced by professional entertainment. The host and MC Emmanuel Kisiangani opened the ceremony with witty humour to set the tone. Shamsi Music serenaded the room with captivating live performances, and comedian Amandeep Jagde delivered comedy sets that left attendees roaring with laughter.
The exceptional turnout reflected the deep commitment of the finance community to celebrating outstanding contributions across sectors and organisations.
The full list of the 2025 CFO Awards winners:
- CFO of the Year, Kenya – Dilip Pal, CFO, Safaricom
- CFO of the Year, Tanzania – Dipen Patel, financial controller, Kioo
- CFO of the Year, Rwanda – Titus Langat, former CFO, Ecobank Rwanda
- CFO of the Year, Uganda – Andrew Bugembe, CFO, MTN Uganda
- CFO of the Year, East Africa – Dilip Pal, CFO, Safaricom
- Young CFO of the Year – Bilaal Ramjaun, group CFO, AzamPay Tanzania
- Public Impact CFO of the Year – Peter Ssenyange, CFO, PostBank Uganda
- Strategy Execution Award – Dilip Pal, CFO, Safaricom
- Finance Transformation Award – Andrew Bugembe, CFO, MTN Uganda
- Compliance & Governance Award – Yusuf Omari, finance director, Absa Bank Kenya
- High-Performance Team Award – Hilda Bujiku, finance director, Vodacom Tanzania
- Finance & ESG Award – Jackline Engefu Aluda, group CFO, Cold Solutions Kenya
- Finance & Technology Award – Hosea Kiprop, group CFO, AAR Insurance
- Beyond Finance Award – Dennis Musau, CFVO, Stanbic Bank Kenya
The judges for the 2025 awards were:
- Andrew Ssekamwa, strategic finance executive
- Carol Musyoka, chief provocateur, CMCL
- Daniel Ngumy, managing partner, ALN Kenya
- George Odenyo, CEO, American Tower Corporation
- Hanif Jaffer, founder and director, Exim Bank Tanzania & Uganda
- Dr James McFie, senior lecturer, Strathmore University Business School
- John Bugunya, vice president, ICPAR
- Josephine Ossiya, CEO, Capital Markets Authority of Uganda
- Julian Ingabire, strategy director, ICPAR
- Leonard Mususa, chairperson, Tanzania Breweries
- Mkombozi Karake, chairperson, KMD Rwanda
- Nelson Rwihula, MD, Newtan Insurance
- Prof. Samuel Sejjaaka, principal, MAT ABACUS Business School
Accolades pour in
The CFOs and Awards partners were profoundly expressed by their experience, with feedback pouring in to the CFO East Africa team.
“I am deeply honoured to have been a finalist among the top ten CFOs in Kenya – a big thank you to everyone who believed in me and put my name forward,” says John Githiomi, group CFO at Rubis Energy Kenya. “This recognition is not just personal; it reflects the amazing teams and partnerships that make success possible. A special thank you to the organisers, and especially KC Rottok Chesaina for the flawless execution of this event and for building such a strong, vibrant CFO community. Your efforts are elevating the finance profession and creating a platform for collaboration, learning and leadership.”
“I am honoured to have been a finalist and recognised among East Africa’s top CFOs at the 2025 CFO Awards. I am truly grateful, humbled and inspired by this recognition,” says Caroline Mackola, FD of Central Bank. “The ceremony was a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow finance leaders. A personal highlight was reconnecting with my early career mentor Catherine Mwololo, who with grace and patience taught so many of us to be the finance leaders we have become today.”
“Last night was phenomenal. I had the privilege of attending the CFO Awards gala ceremony in Nairobi, truly the Oscars of Finance,” says Edith Osoro, manager, brand, markets & communication at EY. “EY Kenya was honoured to be a part of this prestigious inaugural celebration as Principal Sponsor for the year 2025. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all the winners across the various categories for their outstanding achievements, and most of all to Dilip Pal, CFO, Safaricom for an extraordinary night, winning three awards and taking home the inaugural CFO of the Year title!”
PwC Kenya posted: “Congratulations to all the winners at the CFO Awards. We are proud to have sponsored the Compliance & Governance Award, recognising outstanding achievements in regulatory compliance and governance. A special congratulations to Yusuf Omari, finance director at Absa Kenya, for his exemplary performance in this category.”
And Muniu Thoithi, partner and advisory lead for Africa at PwC, commented: “I thoroughly enjoyed myself – very rich conversations. Great networking and reconnection with many contacts.”
This is just a small sample of the incredible feedback that’s been pouring in to the CFO East Africa team. And the overriding message is clear: Everyone will definitely be back for more celebrations of excellence, networking and entertainment next year.
The CFO Awards was sponsored by Absa Bank Kenya, EY, PwC Kenya, Stanbic Bank Kenya and Standard Chartered.