James Mworia

Kemi Ajumobi

October 14, 2026

James Mworia
Director of Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund (NIF)

James Mworia is an enterprise builder, investor and business leader. He has built, scaled, governed and exited enterprises across many sectors of the Kenyan economy for several years in his career.

Former  Group CEO Centum PLC and current Director of Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), his role at NIF is a natural extension of helping to build an institution that mobilises capital for commercially viable national infrastructure while using public capital to crowd in private investment.

James was appointed CEO of Centum in 2008 at age 30, becoming the youngest CEO of an NSE-listed company at the time. Since then, Centum PLC has grown its asset base approximately tenfold without raising additional shareholder capital, while returning to shareholders approximately 1.5 times the capital base he  inherited.

Centum has provided a platform to build enterprises across financial services, energy, manufacturing, education, consumer goods, agriculture, real estate, hospitality, infrastructure and special economic zones. Between 2013 and 2023, Centum accounted for approximately a quarter of investment exits in Kenya, achieving returns of around 20% in US dollar terms.

Mworia’s governance experience includes serving on the boards of the Nairobi Securities Exchange and Central Depository and Settlement Corporation, and as Chairman of Sidian Bank and Almasi Beverages.

Furthermore, he serves as Chancellor of Machakos University, where he established the Chancellor’s Scholarship Fund and has provided full scholarships to approximately 200 students. James Mworia also chairs The Nature Conservancy Africa Council and serves as a Director of Loldaiga Conservancy.

He is a member of the Chartered Global Management Accountants and CFA Institute, a University of Nairobi law graduate, and an advocate of the High Court of Kenya.