Safaricom PLC has officially appointed Mark Oyier as its new Director of IT, moving to fill a critical leadership gap that has persisted since the departure of George Njuguna in 2024. The appointment marks a strategic step in reinforcing the telecommunications giant’s technology bench as it scales digital transformation, platform resilience, and customer-centric innovation.
Oyier’s elevation is an internal promotion. He previously served as the Head of Department for Billing and Core Applications (BSS), where he oversaw business-critical systems essential for revenue assurance, service delivery, and customer management. In his new role, Oyier will report directly to James Maitai, the Group Chief of Technology and Information Officer (CITO). Maitai had been providing continuity across key IT functions after returning to the telco in 2024 to take up the CITO position following Njuguna’s exit.
Before joining Safaricom, Oyier built an extensive track record across Kenya’s dynamic banking and telecommunications sectors. His experience includes serving as Head of IT Applications and Channels at NCBA Group and leading IT Applications, Development, and Support at Stanbic Bank Kenya. This deep background in financial services positions him well to navigate a market where the convergence of telecoms and fintech continues to define new revenue models.
Oyier takes the IT helm during a period of significant internal restructuring and strategic expansion at Safaricom. The telco recently tapped Sylvia Anampiu to lead its Fixed Business division as it prepares to roll out flexible, pay-as-you-go fibre plans to capture a wider broadband market. The company has also navigated notable leadership transitions within its corporate portfolio, including the quiet exit of Chief Enterprise Business Officer Cynthia Karuri-Kropac in mid-2025 after a two-year tenure.
Ensuring system stability and security will be a top priority for Oyier, particularly as Safaricom intensifies its fight against internal misconduct and defends the core M-PESA infrastructure against external cyber threats. In 2025, the telco dismissed 113 employees in a record crackdown primarily linked to sophisticated SIM-swap fraud and internal policy breaches. Oyier’s mandate will therefore encompass not just enabling new ecosystem partnerships, but also fortifying the underlying layers of Safaricom’s network to safeguard millions of daily mobile money transactions.
