African Development Bank appoints Dr Kennedy Mbekeani as Director General for East Africa

The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has appointed Dr Kennedy K. Mbekeani as Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office, and Country Manager for Kenya, effective from 16 October 2024.

Mbekeani, a citizen of Malawi has over 25 years of senior experience in development finance, project management, policy advisory services, and knowledge generation at national and regional levels.

Commenting on his appointment, Mbekeani said: “I am grateful and feel honored by the confidence President Adesina placed in me through this appointment, as Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office and country manager for Kenya. I look forward to working with the president, the Board of Directors, senior management, our teams, and stakeholders to enhance the Bank’s operational efficiency, and effectiveness and drive impactful developmental outcomes across the region.”

Before this appointment, he served as deputy director general for the Bank’s Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery Office. In this role, he led the Bank’s business development and delivery for sovereign and non-sovereign investments and provided advisory services to South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, and Mauritius. His efforts contributed to the Bank’s reputation as a trusted partner for high-impact development projects in the region. He also managed relationships with governments and the private sector.

Mbekeani joined the Bank in 2009 as Chief Trade and Regional Integration Officer. Subsequently, he has held various roles including lead regional economist, officer in charge, and acting regional director respectively of the Bank’s South African Resource Centre. While serving as country manager for Uganda, he successfully expanded the Bank’s portfolio to over $2 billion.

Before joining the Bank, Mbekeani worked for the United Nations Development Programme as a trade, debt, and globalization advisor for East and Southern Africa. He also served as a senior research fellow at the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis and a senior economist at the National Institute for Economic Policy in South Africa.

He holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Economics and Statistics) degree from the University of Malawi, an MPhil in Monetary Economics from the University of Glasgow, and both an MA and PhD in International Economics from the University of California. He has authored numerous publications focusing on trade, regional integration, and infrastructure development in Africa.

President of the African Development Bank Group and Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr Akinwumi Adesina said: “I am delighted to appoint Dr. Kennedy Mbekeani as Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office, and Country manager for Kenya. Kennedy brings extensive experience in managing operations, and policy dialogue, coupled with astute diplomacy and a well-tested ability to work effectively with countries and development partners. His knowledge of the Eastern Africa region and well-proven experience in delivering robust operations for the public and private sectors will strongly benefit the work and operations of the African Development Bank Group in East Africa and all countries in the region.”

“He will play a critical role in helping to provide strategic vision, delivery, and leadership on economic policy and research at the Bank Group, and to inform and shape its work with sound analysis and direction. His vast experience in leading country policy dialogue coupled with the ability to build strong partnerships and networks will be a key asset in enhancing and developing the Bank Group’s knowledge profile, influence, and impact.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).