Kenya Airways has appointed its Chief Operating Officer, Captain George Kamau, as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, as the board initiates a search for a permanent successor.
Kamal, a seasoned aviation executive and trained pilot with extensive experience at Iraqi Airways, Air Arabia, Etihad Airways, and EgyptAir, will lead the national carrier during this transitional period with full support from the board. The directors have not yet revealed the timeline for the recruitment process or whether it will include both internal and external candidates.
The appointment follows the departure of Allan Kilavuka, one of the airline’s longest-serving CEOs, who proceeded on terminal leave on 16 December, ahead of his contract’s scheduled expiry in April 2026. Kilavuka’s exit comes shortly after the retirement of long-serving board chairman Michael Joseph, leaving Kenya Airways facing a significant leadership vacuum at both executive and board levels.
Kilavuka took the helm in April 2020 amid extraordinary challenges, stepping in after the sudden resignation of predecessor Sebastian Mikosz. Already burdened by years of financial losses, the airline was further crippled by the Covid-19 pandemic, which grounded fleets and slashed revenues worldwide.
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Under his leadership, Kenya Airways staged a dramatic recovery, recording a landmark net profit of Sh5.4 billion in 2024 – its first annual profit in nearly a decade – fuelled by restored capacity, optimised routes, and strong growth in passenger and cargo demand.
In a statement, the board commended Kilavuka’s stewardship: “Allan served with commitment, dedication, honour and diligence, steering the company through the turbulent Covid-19 period which affected the aviation sector negatively. He subsequently oversaw the growth of revenues and freight volumes, reaffirming the operational viability of the airline.”
However, the carrier recently issued a profit warning for the current financial year, highlighting ongoing difficulties in maintaining momentum. Kilavuka’s tenure was also tested by industrial action, including a disruptive pilots’ strike in November 2022 that caused widespread flight cancellations before being declared illegal by the courts.
