The corner office at Standard Chartered Bank Kenya is set for a shake-up. In a move that signals a generational shift in Kenya’s tier-one banking leadership, CEO Kariuki Ngari has announced his exit, effective April 16, 2026.

Ngari’s departure concludes a definitive seven-year chapter characterized by aggressive digital transformation and navigating the lender through the economic turbulence of the post-pandemic era. The board has moved swiftly to ensure continuity, appointing Birju Sanghrajka to take the wheel. Simultaneously, in a continental reshuffle, Nigerian banker Dalu Ajene has been tapped to replace Ngari as the CEO for Africa operations, a dual hat Ngari had worn since 2024.

The Digital Legacy

When Ngari took over in 2019, the banking sector was still obsessed with brick-and-mortar expansion. He pivoted. Under his watch, StanChart closed physical branches and went all-in on their mobile app, SC Mobile. It was a gamble that alienated some older clients but won the war for the youth demographic. "Kariuki didn’t just run a bank; he ran a tech company with a banking license," noted a Nairobi-based financial analyst.

However, the exit comes at a time when the bank is facing headwinds. The Kenyan unit reported a 38.2% drop in net profit for the nine months ended September 2025, falling to KES 9.7 billion. The high interest rate environment and loan defaults have bitten hard. Ngari leaves with his head held high, but he leaves a full inbox for Sanghrajka.

• The New Guard: Birju Sanghrajka is an insider’s insider. His appointment suggests the board wants stability rather than a radical new direction. He is expected to double down on wealth management, a segment where StanChart remains the market leader.
• The Africa Strategy: The appointment of Dalu Ajene to the Africa role indicates the bank’s pivot towards West Africa as a growth engine. Ngari’s tenure saw the consolidation of the East African market; Ajene’s mandate will likely be to crack the complex Nigerian code.

As the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) reacts to the news tomorrow, investors will be looking for reassurance. Ngari was a steady hand—a banker of the old school with a new school mindset. His exit is not just a retirement; it is the loss of one of the industry’s most articulate statesmen.