Former Centum Investment Company Chief Executive James Mworia has been appointed the founding Chief Executive Officer of the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), taking charge of the newly established institution as it begins operations. The NIF Board announced the appointment on Monday, September 7, 2026, saying Mworia was selected through a competitive recruitment process. His appointment took effect immediately. Mworia will lead efforts to establish the Fund’s organisational structure, systems and workforce while putting in place its governance, investment and risk-management frameworks. He will also be responsible for developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects capable of attracting investment and mobilising co-investment capital from domestic and international investors.
The appointment comes less than two months after Mworia was appointed to the NIF’s inaugural board by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi. He joined the board alongside five other members in July 2026 for a three-year term. His move to the CEO position means he will now take an executive role in the institution rather than continue as an independent board member. Mworia brings more than 25 years of experience in investment management, enterprise development and capital allocation. He served as Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Centum Investment Company Plc for 17 years before taking up the new role. The NIF Board said his experience in building businesses, mobilising capital and bringing investments to market would be important as the institution is established.
The National Infrastructure Fund was established under the National Infrastructure Fund Act, 2026, as the government seeks alternative ways of financing large infrastructure projects and reducing reliance on conventional public borrowing. The Fund is expected to mobilise as much as KSh5 trillion for infrastructure investment, bringing together public resources and private capital. Its focus areas include transport and logistics, energy, information and communication technology, water and agriculture. The model is intended to develop infrastructure projects into commercially viable investments capable of attracting long-term financing from pension funds, institutional investors, development finance institutions and other private-sector partners.
As the Fund’s first CEO, Mworia will have to build the institution from the ground up. The NIF Board said his initial priorities include establishing the organisation and its institutional culture, developing investment and risk-management systems, creating a credible pipeline of projects and mobilising co-investment capital. He will also oversee the appraisal, structuring and execution of priority infrastructure projects. Mworia holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Global Management Accountant and CFA charterholder. His appointment comes as the government seeks to create a more investment-led approach to infrastructure development, with the NIF expected to attract private and international capital alongside public resources.