Kenya, 23 October 2025 - Sidian Bank has appointed former health cabinet secretary James Macharia as its new chief executive officer (CEO).
Macharia takes over from James Mworia, the long-serving CEO of Centum Investments, who has held the position of CEO at Sidian Bank since 2014.
Mworia will continue to play a key role in the bank’s governance as a member of the Board of Directors.
As part of a broader leadership overhaul, the bank has also bolstered its board with the appointment of two distinguished professionals: Professor Paul Gachanja and Apollo Ong’ara.
Prof Gachanja is an Associate Professor of Economics and Registrar (Administration and Finance) at Kenyatta University, while Ong’ara is a Managing Partner at Baker Tilly, a global accounting and advisory firm.
A Seasoned Leader at the Helm
Mr Macharia brings over three decades of diverse experience spanning accountancy, financial consultancy, commercial banking, and public service.
His professional journey began in the UK, where he worked with Deloitte’s Tax Consultancy Division in London before returning to Kenya in 1989.
Upon his return, he joined Standard Chartered Bank, and later moved to the African Banking Corporation (ABC), where he rose through the ranks to become Managing Director, overseeing operations in Zambia and Tanzania.
In 2005, he was appointed Group Managing Director of NIC Bank (now NCBA Group). During his tenure, he led the bank’s regional expansion into Tanzania and Uganda, positioning it as a key player in East Africa’s banking sector.
During President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, Macharia’s career took a turn toward public service in 2013, when he was appointed to the Cabinet by the Government of Kenya.
Macharia holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Nairobi and an MBA from the prestigious Henley Management College in the United Kingdom.
He is a Certified Public Accountant (Kenya) and a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.