Just days after declaring a record KSh 70 per share dividend for 2025, the board of British American Tobacco Kenya PLC confirmed a dual leadership transition at the top of the business.
- •Managing Director Crispin Achola will exit on 15 June 2026, while Finance Director Philemon Kipkemoi will step down on 31 March 2026.
- •The board has appointed Sidney Wafula as incoming Managing Director and Catherine Chepkong’a as Finance Director.
- •Wafula, currently Finance Director for BAT Sub-Saharan Africa Area, joined BAT Kenya in 2006 and has held senior finance and operations roles across multiple African markets.
Achola took over as Managing Director in January 2021 and led the company through a period where the listed tobacco manufacturer dealt with market pressures from rising illicit trade, regulatory pressure and shifting consumer trends. During his tenure, the company maintained a consistent dividend policy and delivered an 18% increase in profit before tax in 2025 to KSh 7.7 billion. The total dividend for the year reached KSh 7.0 billion, translating to KSh 70 per share.
Kipkemoi, who has served as Finance Director since 2020, oversaw treasury management during volatile currency cycles and supported cost discipline across operations. In 2025, finance income improved to KSh 196 million from a loss position in the prior year, while closing cash rose to KSh 6.2 billion.
Chepkong’a joined the BAT Group in 2012 and has held finance leadership roles across East and Southern Africa. She steps into the Finance Director role from 1 April 2026, bringing regional experience in financial governance and performance management.
The transition comes at a time when the company faces elevated illicit trade levels in the domestic market and continues to rely on exports for roughly half of its revenue base.
