Kenya Airways has moved into a new leadership phase as acting Group Managing Director and CEO George Kamal prepares to leave the carrier and Habil Waswani takes over in the interim. The Nairobi-based airline is pressing ahead with its management transition while it works to keep its turnaround and network operations on track across Africa and international routes.
Waswani took up the acting role on 15 September, succeeding Kamal, who is due to exit after a 30-day handover period at the end of the month. The change comes as Kenya Airways continues to position its recent operational gains as part of a broader stabilisation effort under interim leadership.
The succession is being managed as a temporary arrangement while the board searches for a substantive chief executive. Kamal’s departure follows eight months in the role, and the carrier has framed the transition as orderly, with continuity in day-to-day operations and strategic direction. The shift is closely watched by investors and African network carriers tracking governance stability at a flag carrier still focused on recovery.