The National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) Board has appointed Dr James Mworia as the fund’s founding Chief Executive Officer as the government moves to operationalise the institution tasked with mobilising billions of shillings for major infrastructure projects.
In a notice issued on Monday, September 7, the board said Mworia’s appointment followed a competitive recruitment process and took effect immediately.
“The Board of the National Infrastructure Fund is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr James Mworia, MBS, as founding Chief Executive Officer, following a competitive recruitment process with effect from 7 September 2026,” the board said.
The NIF is a corporate institution established in March 2026 to help finance large-scale public infrastructure by combining government seed capital with private sector investments.
The fund is expected to reduce the government’s reliance on conventional borrowing and taxation to finance major public projects by leveraging public resources to attract private capital.
It targets mobilising and investing up to Sh5 trillion to accelerate infrastructure development across the country.
Under the model, government capital will be used to attract additional financing from private investors, including pension funds and international financial institutions.
The fund is expected to draw its initial capital from proceeds generated through the sale of government shares in state-owned enterprises and privatisation initiatives.
The blended-finance model is designed to enable every shilling committed by the government to attract as much as Sh10 from private sector partners.
The NIF board said Mworia’s experience in investment management, enterprise development and capital mobilisation would be critical as the institution begins operations.
“The Board is confident that Dr Mworia's record of building institutions and enterprises, mobilising capital and bringing investments to market will enable NIF to deliver critical infrastructure, deepen Kenya's capital markets, raise productivity and strengthen Kenya's competitiveness,” it said.
Mworia brings more than 25 years of experience in investment management, enterprise development and capital allocation.
He has operated at principal-investment level since 2005 and served as Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Centum Investment Company Plc for 17 years.
His appointment comes two months after he was named to the NIF Board.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi appointed Mworia to the board on July 8, 2026, alongside five other members.
Mworia holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
He is also a Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Global Management Accountant and CFA charterholder.
He is a member of the Law Society of Kenya, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the CFA Institute.
His appointment comes as the government seeks to establish alternative mechanisms for financing infrastructure projects amid pressure to contain public debt and reduce reliance on government borrowing.
