• Bachelor of Education (Honors), Kenyatta University

Simon joined SMEP in 2008 as a Senior Credit Officer and has risen through the ranks to become the Head of Business Development. He has over 15 years of progressive experience in the banking sector, with a focus on business development and management. He has held various leadership positions, including Relationship Manager and Branch Manager. Simon has a proven track record of achieving sales targets, optimizing business growth, and maintaining high-quality loan portfolios. He is skilled in strategic planning, market research, and business development.

• Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
• Certified Public Accountant of Kenya

Kiptisia is a qualified internal audit, risk management and compliance professional with more than 9 Years experience in the microfinance sector in Kenya. Prior to joining SMEP MFB, Kiptisia worked with ECLOF Kenya as an internal auditor. He has undergone various trainings in data analysis, cyber security and Financial crime prevention from the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS). He has also served as a working group member of the National Risk Assessment Taskforce on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in Kenya and is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.

• Bachelor of Business Management (Finance and Banking), Moi University
• Certified Public Accountant CPA (K)
• Member of Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)

Alfred Joined SMEP in 2008 as an Accountant, and rose through the ranks to become senior Internal Auditor in the year 2013. He previously worked for Barclays Bank of Kenya as a customer advisor. Prior to his appointment, he was the Acting Head of Internal Audit. Alfred has a wealth of experience spanning over 15 years in the field of Finance and Audit. He oversees the internal Audit function that evaluates the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes of the bank.

• LLB Degree, Kampala International University
• Post-Graduate Diploma, Kenya School of Law

• Admitted to the Bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya
• Member, Law Society of Kenya

Ruth joined SMEP MFB PLC in June 2022 as the Senior Legal Officer. She has experience in practicing Civil and Criminal Litigation, Commercial, Family, Conveyancing and Banking Law. She is responsible for the Bank’s Legal Services which include legal advisory, company secretarial and corporate governance support, legal & regulatory compliance, securitization, litigation and contract portfolio management and operational support. Prior to joining the Bank, she was an associate at Kinoti & KIbe Company Advocates, a top tier law firm in Kenya.

• MSc in information Technology Management (ITM) – University of Nairobi
• BSc in Computer Information Systems (CIS) – Kenya Methodist University
• Advanced Diploma in Electronics and Computing Systems – City & Guilds Certification (UK)

Member of Computer Society of Kenya (CSK)

Daniel joined SMEP in 2024

Prior to that, he had worked in various sectors including Kenya Methodist University, Kenya Orient Insurance Ltd, IRDO and IT Consultancy services.

His career in ICT started in 2001 and he has acquired immense professional experience in diverse areas including ICT Management, risk management and projects. He has undertaken a leadership program on New Leadership Program from Strathmore Business School.

• Strategic Management and Leadership Practice, Chartered Management Institute (CMI, UK)
• Masters in Business Administration, Manchester Metropolitan University (UK)
• Bachelor of Science degree, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology

• Certified Credit Professional (CCP), KASNEB
• Advanced Diploma in Corporate Credit (Distinction), Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland
• Certified Expert in SME finance, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
• Chartered Manager and Member, Chartered Management Institute (CMgr,CMI- UK)
• Alumnus, International Training College (ITC) of the ILO, Turin, Italy

Mr. Munguti joined the Bank in 2017 as the Head of Credit. He is an experienced banker in credit and business development and has held leadership roles in those capacities in both commercial and microfinance banks. He also previously held the position of Head of Business development before his appointment to the role the Acting Chief Executive Officer in October 2025.

Bernard Mutinda Kivava joined SMEP Microfinance Bank PLC as Chief Executive Officer on 18 May 2026. He is a seasoned microfinance and retail banking executive with over 20 years of leadership experience across East Africa, with strong expertise in institutional transformation, governance, risk management, resource mobilization, business growth, and SME banking.

He has successfully led institutional turnarounds, strengthened governance frameworks, improved portfolio performance, mobilized growth capital, and expanded financial inclusion for micro, small, and medium enterprises. His leadership is anchored on simplicity, accountability, disciplined execution, innovation, and people development.

At SMEP Microfinance Bank PLC, his focus is on strengthening institutional resilience, deepening customer trust, improving operational performance, and advancing sustainable financial inclusion.

Bernard holds an MBA in Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Moi University, and a Diploma in Business Management from the Kenya Institute of Management. He is a Certified Senior Banking Executive in Microfinance and SME Banking Practice and a member of the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Kenya (AMFI).

• Led strategy, change management, institutional transformation, governance, risk management, talent development and performance improvement, policy and process reengineering, resource mobilization, product and service innovation, digitalization of processes to improve on efficiency, stakeholder engagement and operational performance for a leading microfinance institution in Kenya.

Provided strategic leadership during the transformation of the institution from a credit-only business into a regulated deposit- taking microfinance institution, including restructuring, risk controls, process improvement, resource mobilization, people development, productivity improvement and stakeholder management.

Oversaw business growth, deposits mobilization, portfolio performance, customer experience, product innovation, and risk management controls. Earlier at Faulu Kenya, he served in several leadership and operational roles including Area Manager, Branch Manager, Development Finance Officer, and Project Manager for Micro Deposits Mobilization.

Value to SMEP: Kivava brings a strong blend of turnaround leadership, regulated financial services experience, stakeholder management, and growth-focused execution. His experience positions him to support SMEP Microfinance Bank PLC’s strategic priorities of stability, sustainable growth, customer impact, and long-term institutional resilience.

• BSc. Agricultural Engineering, University of Nairobi

• CPA I
• Diploma Project Management, Kenya Institute of Management (Project level).
• Various Certifications in Leadership, Banking, Risk Management and Business Processes.

Abel has over 10 years’ experience in banking with expertise in rollout and management of both Digital and Conventional delivery channels. He is skilled in Branch and Central Operations, Internal Controls, Customer Service, Project Management and Business Process Reengineering. Abel joined SMEP MFB in 2015 to oversee Banking Operations and Customer Service function. He previously worked at Faulu MFB at front office and back office at entry level and rose to Supervisor, Operational Excellence before moving to SMEP.

Esther Waitara is the Head of Finance at SMEP Microfinance Bank PLC, providing strategic leadership in financial management, budgeting, treasury oversight, regulatory compliance, and institutional performance management. Esther worked previously with Mwalimu National DT Sacco Ltd as the Head of Finance and Strategy, and as the Head of Credit and Quasi Banking. Prior to this, Esther had worked in Faulu Microfinance Bank Ltd as the Head of Finance. She is a seasoned finance executive with over 20 years of progressive experience across microfinance and SACCO institutions, with a strong track record in financial governance, credit oversight, and organizational transformation.

Esther holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) from the Kenya Methodist University. She is Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya(ICPAK). She is also a member of Association of Women Accountants of Kenya (AWAK) and Africa Development Education program (ADE). Additionally, she has completed several executive and professional programs, including the Corporate Governance for Directors – Centre for Corporate Governance, Financial Inclusion and delivery channels-Canada, MSME strategy and Credit Risk Management,7 Habits of Highly Effective People and CFO programmes.

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