Visa, the global payments company, has appointed Anne Kinuthia Otieno, the former managing director of Airtel Money Kenya, as the Vice President and Head of East Africa, less than a week after announcing her departure from the mobile money operator. 

She will assume the role on August 4, overseeing Visa’s business across seven East African markets. According to Visa, Kinuthia-Otieno will be based in Nairobi, where she will lead the company’s efforts to grow digital payments, deepen partnerships with financial institutions and partners, and expand financial inclusion across the region. 

The appointment answers the question industry watchers had after Kinuthia-Otieno stepped down as Airtel Money Kenya chief months before Airtel Africa’s planned initial public offering (IPO) of its mobile money business on the London Stock Exchange.

“East Africa is one of the most dynamic and innovative payments markets in the world, with tremendous opportunities to advance financial inclusion and digital commerce,” she said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Visa’s clients, partners and talented teams across the region to help drive the next phase of growth and innovation.”

Kinuthia-Otieno joined Airtel Money Kenya in August 2021 after spending more than a decade in the banking sector. Before Airtel Money Kenya, she held senior leadership roles at Absa Group, where she oversaw governance and sales distribution, and spent more than seven years at Barclays Bank.

She left Airtel Money after overseeing one of the company’s strongest growth periods. When she took over in September 2021, Airtel Money accounted for 3.1% of the country’s mobile money subscriptions, compared with M-PESA’s 96.8%. By March 2026, Airtel Money’s market share had increased to 10.9%, while M-PESA’s had fallen to 89.1%.

After her departure, Airtel Money Kenya appointed Bonke Michael, who had spent nearly a decade at the company, as its acting managing director.

Kinuthia Otieno joins Visa as the payments giant accelerates its expansion across Africa. The company is four years into a five-year, $1 billion investment commitment to advance resilient and inclusive economies across the continent. Visa is also investing in local capabilities, opening its first African data centre in Johannesburg, and exploring stablecoin-based settlements. 

“Anne’s appointment comes at an exciting time for Visa and for East Africa’s digital economy,” said Michael Berner, senior vice president and regional managing director, Southern and Eastern Africa, Visa. “Her deep understanding of the region, proven leadership experience and passion for financial inclusion will be instrumental as we continue working with clients, partners and governments to expand access to digital payments and economic opportunity.”

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