Kenya Airways has announced the departure of Capt. George Kamal from his role as Acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, with the airline’s Board appointing Habil Waswani as his interim successor.
Chairman Kiprono Kittony confirmed the exit in a memo to staff dated September 1, 2026, thanking Capt. Kamal for four years of service to the airline.
Capt. Kamal joined Kenya Airways as Chief Operating Officer in March 2023, rising to Acting GMD/CEO effective December 16, 2025, when he took over from Allan Kilavuka, who exited after six years at the helm.
During his tenure, the Board said Capt. Kamal helped stabilise the airline’s operations and guided the Company through its most recent executive leadership transition. The memo did not disclose the reasons for his departure or his next career move.
The Board has appointed Habil Waswani, currently Company Secretary and Director of Legal Services, as Acting GMD/CEO effective September 15, 2026.
Waswani brings more than 24 years of multi-sectoral legal and corporate governance experience and over five years of service at the airline. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Nairobi, a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law, and a Global Executive MBA from the United States International University in collaboration with Columbia Business School, New York.
He is a Certified Public Secretary and a member of the Law Society of Kenya, the Institute of Certified Secretaries of Kenya, and the Institute of Directors of Kenya. He is also a multiple recipient of the Legal 500 GC Powerlist East Africa Awards since 2004.
Kenya Airways said a competitive recruitment process for a substantive GMD/CEO is already underway and is expected to conclude in the near term.
The Board reiterated its focus on the airline’s turnaround strategy, anchored on operational reliability, network and fleet optimisation, sustainability, growth, and the identification of a suitable strategic investor, as communicated during its recent Investors Brief.
Kittony called on stakeholders to support the leadership transition, expressing confidence in a smooth handover and sustained progress toward the airline’s strategic goals.
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