Kenya Airways names Habil Waswani acting CEO as George Kamal exits

Kenya Airways has appointed Habil Waswani as Acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer following the resignation of Captain George Kamal, marking another leadership transition at the national carrier as it pursues a difficult turnaround strategy.

Waswani, currently the airline's Company Secretary and Director of Legal Services and Regulatory Compliance, will assume the position on September 15, 2026.

Kamal resigned citing personal reasons and will remain at Kenya Airways during a 30-day transition period before formally leaving the airline on September 30.

The Kenya Airways Board said it has already started a competitive recruitment process for a substantive Group Managing Director and CEO.

Waswani therefore takes charge on an interim basis at a critical period for an airline still attempting to achieve sustainable profitability while dealing with rising operating costs and capacity constraints.

Kamal leaves after eight months at the top

Kamal had served as acting CEO since December 16, 2025, after previously spending three years as Kenya Airways' Chief Operating Officer.

The airline credited him with helping stabilise operations and steering the company through its previous executive leadership transition.

He also led the executive team in implementing KQ's ongoing turnaround strategy.

“Capt. Kamal served with commitment, dedication, honour and diligence,” the airline's board said in announcing his departure.

His resignation comes less than nine months after he assumed the airline's top executive position.

Who is Habil Waswani?

Unlike Kamal, whose professional background is primarily in aviation operations, Waswani comes to the CEO's office from the legal and corporate governance side of Kenya Airways.

He has more than 24 years of experience in corporate and commercial law and has worked at Kenya Airways for more than five years.

Before joining KQ, Waswani held senior corporate governance positions in the banking and insurance sectors.

At Kenya Airways, he has overseen aviation and airline-related legal matters alongside commercial, corporate and regulatory affairs.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree 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.

New boss inherits major challenges

Waswani's biggest challenge will not simply be managing another leadership transition.

Kenya Airways is still attempting to establish sustainable profitability after years of financial difficulties.

The national carrier recorded a loss of about Sh16 billion in the six months to June 2026, compared with approximately Sh12 billion during the corresponding period a year earlier.

Capacity constraints and sharply higher fuel costs were among the pressures on the airline.

The Middle East conflict has been particularly significant for airlines because higher oil prices feed directly into jet-fuel costs, one of the industry's largest operating expenses.

Kenya Airways must simultaneously improve operational reliability, optimise its fleet and network and maintain passenger confidence.

Strategic investor remains critical

The airline's longer-term future also remains tied to efforts to secure a strategic investor.

The government has continued supporting Kenya Airways financially while seeking an investor capable of strengthening its balance sheet and improving its long-term commercial prospects.

Finding such an investor has proved difficult despite years of restructuring efforts.

The airline also continues to carry a heavy debt burden and negative equity position accumulated through years of losses.

This means the incoming leadership will have to balance operational improvement with financial restructuring and investor negotiations.

Kenya Airways says the leadership transition will not change its strategic direction.

“The company remains focused on the ongoing turnaround strategy of the airline whose primary objective is to secure its operational reliability, return to positive financial performance sustainability and achievement of its targeted growth ambitions,” the company said.

Search begins for permanent CEO

Waswani's appointment is temporary, with the Board confirming that the search for a substantive CEO is already underway.

That recruitment process will be closely watched because whoever eventually takes over permanently will inherit one of Kenya's most strategically important but financially challenging State-linked companies.

KQ remains critical to Kenya's ambition to establish Nairobi as a major aviation hub connecting Africa with Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.

The immediate task for Waswani will therefore be maintaining stability during the transition.

The bigger question for the Board is who will ultimately be entrusted with completing Kenya Airways' long-running turnaround — and whether the next CEO can finally translate that strategy into sustained profitability.