Top 9 Highest‑Paid CEOs In Kenya In 2025

Kenya’s corporate landscape boasts top-tier executive earnings, with CEOs commanding monthly salaries ranging from KSh 3.7 million to over KSh 37 million. As demands on leadership intensify, this ranking highlights the pay premium for top-performing leaders.

Kenya’s top CEOs command some of the highest pay packages in Africa, reflecting their pivotal roles in steering high-revenue sectors and delivering shareholder value. As corporate governance and performance linkages tighten, these salaries underscore the premium placed on sustained growth and leadership excellence.

CEO pay continues to soar globally. In the U.S., Rick Smith of Axon earned a staggering US $165 million (Ksh21.4 billion) in 2024, driven almost entirely by equity awards.

Similarly, turbulent U.S. market trends saw CEO pay rise nearly 10%, with the median for S&P 500 CEOs at US $17.1 million (Ksh2.2 billion).

Here’s a list of the highest-paid CEOs in Kenya in 2025;

1. Gideon Muriuki – Co‑operative Bank of Kenya

• Annual Salary: KSh 450 million (≈ KSh 37.5 million/month)

Muriuki tops the list after steering CBK through robust financial growth, with a compensation package heavily weighted toward performance bonuses.

2. Peter Ndegwa – Safaricom PLC

• Annual Salary: KSh 252.3 million (≈ KSh 21.0 million/month)

Ndegwa, the first Kenyan CEO of Safaricom, earned over KSh 313 million in 2023, including bonuses, underscoring the premium placed on his leadership.

3. James Mworia – Centum Investments

• Annual Salary: KSh 201.1 million (≈ KSh 16.8 million/month)

A long-standing leader, Mworia’s pay reflects Centum’s diversified growth under his stewardship.

4. John Gachora – NCBA Group

• Annual Salary: KSh 185.8 million (≈ KSh 15.5 million/month)

Boosted by strong performance, Gachora saw a 25% pay rise as NCBA expanded its profits.

5. James Mwangi – Equity Bank Group

• Annual Salary: KSh 189.6 million (≈ KSh 15.8 million/month)

Mwangi continues to lead one of East Africa’s top banks, with compensation linked to solid institutional performance.

6. Paul Russo – KCB Bank Group

• Annual Salary: KSh 177.7 million (≈ KSh 14.8 million/month)

He is rewarded for achieving robust growth and digital transformation at the country’s largest commercial bank.

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7. Abdi Mohamed – Absa Bank Kenya

• Annual Salary: KSh 109 million (≈ KSh 9.1 million/month)

Mohamed’s pay reflects Absa’s ambitions for expansion and regulatory strengthening under his tenure.

8. Jane Karuku – East African Breweries Limited (EABL)

• Annual Salary: KSh 83.5 million (≈ KSh 7.0 million/month)

Karuku is one of the nation’s highest-paid female CEOs, leading EABL through growth and sustainability transitions.

9. Ronald Karauri – SportPesa

• Estimated: Over KSh 144 million/year (≈ KSh 12 million/month)

Combining his MP duties with executive leadership, Karauri remains among Kenya’s top-paid CEOs in the booming betting sector.

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