Standard Bank Group has announced leadership changes across its Africa Regions business, effective September 1, 2025. Dr Joshua Oigara has been appointed Regional Chief Executive for East Africa. He will retain his role as Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank Kenya while taking on the regional mandate, subject to regulatory approval.
Why this matters for East Africa’s banking market
Oigara brings deep experience in the region’s financial sector. According to the bank, he has previously led KCB in East Africa and has been central to pushing digitisation, financial inclusion, and policy engagement. His industry roles include two terms as Chair of the Kenya Bankers Association Governing Council, where he championed initiatives aimed at stability, accessibility, and efficiency in banking. He has also served on national and regional advisory platforms, including the Vision 2030 Delivery Board, and has been recognised by the Financial Times among Africa’s top leaders for transformational impact.
The appointment signals continuity in Stanbic’s Kenyan strategy while giving Oigara a broader canvas across East Africa. It also aligns with the sector’s ongoing shift toward digital channels and regional client coverage, as banks look to scale services and harmonise operations across markets.
Transition details
Patrick Mweheire, who has served as Regional Chief Executive for East Africa for five years, will conclude his RCE tenure on August 31, 2025. He remains a Senior Executive within Standard Bank Group and continues as Chief Executive of Stanbic Kenya Holdings. Standard Bank credits Mweheire with helping grow the East Africa franchise and deepening collaboration with multinational and regional clients.
Context: Stanbic’s recent moves in Kenya
For customers and businesses, the leadership transition lands as Stanbic accelerates product updates and trade enablement in Kenya:
- In July, Stanbic’s mobile app added new retail investing and account features, including the ability to invest in KES money market funds or USD fixed-income funds, pay for T-bills and bonds, and open savings accounts directly from a phone.
- In April, the bank launched a platform to simplify Kenya-China trade, including support for Yuan payments and financing tools that target importers and exporters.
- Stanbic has also appeared in SME and supply-chain finance stories in the region, including participation as a capital partner on Ramani’s Financial Marketplace in Tanzania, which aims to expand access to working capital for distributors.
- Earlier this year, Standard Bank was recognised for SME banking at the EMEA Finance African Banking Awards, highlighting group-level SME support that filters down to local subsidiaries.
These developments speak to the broader banking backdrop in Kenya. With the Central Bank of Kenya lifting the long-standing moratorium on new commercial bank licences, competitive and regulatory dynamics are shifting as digital-first entrants line up and incumbents continue to modernise.
The bigger picture: Africa Regions growth and group scale
Standard Bank Group remains the largest African bank by assets, operating in 20 African countries with additional global and offshore hubs. The group’s largest shareholder is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China with a 19.4 percent stake, and both banks maintain a strategic partnership focused on facilitating trade and deal flow between Africa, China, and select emerging markets. The East Africa RCE portfolio is therefore central to regional growth, cross-border corporate coverage, and trade corridors that rely on consistent execution across markets.
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