Kittony’s dual roles spark governance concerns at KQ
The appointment of businessman Kiprono Kittony as chairman of Kenya Airways (KQ) has sparked debate over potential conflict of interest concerns even as the national carrier undergoes a leadership shake-up aimed at reviving its fortunes.
Kenya Airways announced the appointment of Kittony as chairman and independent non-executive director, replacing Michael Joseph, who stepped down after serving on the airline’s board for close to a decade.
The changes come at a critical time of KQ’s sale plan by the government by scouting for a strategic investor to revive the perennial loss-making national carrier.
Kittony currently serves as chairman of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), where Kenya Airways is listed, a development that has triggered questions from governance observers about the propriety of holding leadership positions in both the stock exchange and a listed company.
Corporate governance commentator Ike Ojuko was among those who raised concerns, arguing that the dual roles could present a conflict of interest.
In a post on the social media platform X, Ojuko questioned whether regulators had adequately examined the implications of the appointment.
He suggested that oversight institutions such as the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and the National Treasury of Kenya should clarify whether the arrangement complies with corporate governance and market integrity rules.
“Am seeing Kiprono Kittony is the new Chairman of Kenya Airways. Kiprono Kittony is the Chairman of Nairobi Stock Exchange. KQ is a listed company at NSE. One can’t sit in the Board of NSE and be a Board Member of listed company. There is complete conflict of interest. It is worse when the Board Member is a chairman in both places. National Treasury and Capital Markets Authority (CMA) are not doing their work,” Ike Ojuko said through an X post.
Despite the concerns, the airline said the board changes are part of a broader effort to strengthen leadership as the carrier navigates financial recovery and ongoing investor negotiations.
In addition to Kittony, the airline appointed three independent non-executive directors to the board. They include economist David Ndii, corporate executive Chris Diaz, and finance scholar Winnie Iminza Nyamute.
The appointments, which took effect on March 5, 2026, are intended to bolster governance and guide the airline through the next phase of its restructuring strategy.
In a statement issued by Company Secretary Habil Waswani, the airline congratulated the new board members and expressed confidence in their ability to steer the company forward.
