- Capt. George Kamal has resigned as Kenya Airways Acting Group Managing Director and CEO, citing personal reasons.
- Kamal will remain with the national carrier during a 30-day transition period before leaving on September 30, 2026.
- Company Secretary Habil Waswani will become Acting Group Managing Director and CEO from September 15.
- Waswani has more than 24 years of corporate and commercial legal experience and has worked at KQ for over five years.
- The Kenya Airways board has started a competitive search for a substantive Group Managing Director and CEO.
- The leadership change comes as KQ continues implementing its turnaround strategy.
Kenya Airways is set for another change at the top after Acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Capt. George Kamal announced his resignation.
The national carrier said Kamal was stepping down for personal reasons after serving in its executive leadership for several years. He will not leave immediately, with the airline retaining him for a 30-day transition period before his formal departure on September 30, 2026.
The board has already lined up his interim replacement. Habil Waswani, currently Kenya Airways’ Company Secretary and Director of Legal Services and Regulatory Compliance, will assume the acting CEO position on September 15.
Waswani will lead the airline while the board searches for a substantive holder of the top executive position.
His appointment moves an executive with a strong background in corporate law, governance and regulatory affairs into the airline’s top management office. He has been with Kenya Airways for more than five years and has handled legal matters connected to aviation operations, commercial transactions and corporate affairs.
Waswani has more than 24 years of experience as a corporate and commercial legal practitioner. Before and during his career at KQ, he has held senior roles involving banking, insurance and corporate governance, giving him experience across several highly regulated sectors.
His academic qualifications include an LL.B from the University of Nairobi, a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law and a Global Executive MBA from United States International University in collaboration with Columbia Business School.
He is also a Certified Public Secretary and belongs to the Law Society of Kenya, the Institute of Certified Secretaries of Kenya and the Institute of Directors of Kenya. His professional work has earned him recognition on the Legal 500 GC Powerlist East Africa between 2024 and 2026.
Kamal joined Kenya Airways’ executive leadership as Chief Operating Officer and served in that position for three years before becoming Acting Group Managing Director and CEO.
The board appointed him to the acting CEO position effective December 16, 2025, following the departure of Allan Kilavuka. At the time, KQ said the appointment was intended to provide continuity as the board began the search for a substantive successor.
In announcing his departure, Kenya Airways Chairman Kiprono Kittony credited Kamal with helping stabilise operations during his time as COO. The board also praised his leadership during the previous executive transition and his role in implementing the airline’s ongoing turnaround programme.
Kamal’s exit will therefore come as Kenya Airways continues working through a wider strategy aimed at improving operational reliability and restoring sustainable financial performance. The airline has also been pursuing longer-term growth objectives as part of its recovery plans.
Board begins search for substantive CEO
Waswani’s appointment is temporary, with the board confirming that recruitment for a permanent Group Managing Director and CEO is already under way.
The competitive recruitment process is expected to produce the executive who will take responsibility for KQ’s longer-term strategy. Until that appointment is completed, Waswani will oversee the airline’s executive leadership during another period of transition.
The board said it fully supports Waswani’s appointment and expressed confidence in his ability to guide the company during the interim period. It also called on employees and other stakeholders to support the incoming acting CEO.
Kenya Airways’ 2025 annual report lists Waswani as the company’s secretary and Capt. George Kamal as Acting Group Managing Director and CEO, reflecting the leadership structure that was in place before the latest changes.
The leadership changes come at a significant point for Kenya Airways as the carrier seeks to strengthen its operations and financial position.
The airline’s turnaround programme has focused on improving reliability, sustainability and growth while the board considers longer-term strategic options. The carrier has also indicated that finding a suitable strategic investor remains part of its broader recovery efforts.
Waswani will therefore inherit an organisation dealing with both immediate leadership needs and longer-term business challenges. His first task will be to maintain continuity while the board completes its search for a permanent CEO.
Kamal’s final transition period
Although Kamal has resigned from the acting CEO position, he will continue working with Kenya Airways until the end of September to facilitate the handover.
The arrangement gives the airline time to transfer responsibilities before Waswani assumes the acting position on September 15. Kamal’s formal exit will then take place on September 30, bringing his tenure at the carrier to an end.
The board has thanked him for his service and leadership, while wishing him well after his departure. Attention now turns to Waswani and the outcome of the competitive recruitment process for KQ’s next substantive chief executive.
