This article was originally published in the Brand Finance Kenya 25 2026.
Interview with Rosalind Gichuru, Group Director Marketing and Communications, KCB
Group Director Marketing and Communications,
Kenya Commercial Bank
What would you consider as defining moments or milestones in building and strengthening the KCB brand?
KCB Group is an organisation with a rich 130-year heritage and has consistently served as a catalyst for development—enabling growth and economic progress, supporting regional trade, and connecting millions of people with opportunity across markets. Throughout our history, we have remained focused on people. Guided by our purpose, ‘For People. For Better’, the Group deploys capital, innovation, and partnerships to uplift communities. The unveiling of our brand purpose, values (Closer, Connected and Courageous) supported by our pillars (Customer-centered Value Propositions, Leveraging Group Capabilities for Efficient Scale, Digital Leadership and Optimising Data & Analytics) and enabled by our enablers (Execution Excellence, Technology Evolution, Risk Resilience and Sustainable Citizenship) reflects our vision to reimagine the future to enable growth and opportunity.
What role does sustainability/ESG play in your industry and for your brand?
KCB Group has grown into a regional financial powerhouse, expanding access to solutions for both the banked and unbanked. Sustainability is central to the brand and is anchored on transforming lives through investment in people, driving progress through innovation, and reducing environmental impact.
Our Sustainability and ESG priorities focus on advancing 14 SDGs through KCB Foundation, our operations, and support for customers and stakeholders. We are positioning the 2Jiajiri Programme as our flagship social impact programme, focused on youth-led enterprise development.
As a member of the Net Zero Banking Alliance, we have targets to reduce carbon emissions and achieve Net Zero by 2050. The Group is accredited by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in the medium-to-large category, able to fund projects between USD50 million and USD250 million. The Group is also positioning itself as a leading green financier, committing to allocate up to 25% of its loan book to green financing by 2030.
Building on these commitments, KCB Group’s citizenship initiatives deliver tangible social impact, including:
a) Inclusive education through the power of opportunity
Since 2007, KCB Foundation’s Scholars Programme has supported over 5,750 students from marginalised backgrounds—including differently abled youths, teen mothers, and refugees—covering schooling from secondary through university, with a 99% completion rate and an 84% transition rate to universities. It also provides mentorship and holistic support, opening doors to opportunities previously out of reach.
b) Economic empowerment: Promoting self-reliance through 2Jiajiri
With the youth making up over 70% of Kenya’s population, unemployment remains a major challenge. The 2Jiajiri Programme addresses this by building technical and vocational skills aligned to market needs. Through TVET partnerships, more than 40,000 young people have been trained in fields such as masonry, plumbing, beauty therapy, and electrical installation—boosting employability, supporting entrepreneurship, and driving grassroots growth.
c) Sports for development
KCB continues to deepen its investments in sports sponsorships as part of its commitment to supporting communities and nurturing talent. Over the years, it has invested more than KShs. 3 billion across motorsports, volleyball, golf, athletics, rugby, football, and chess—becoming synonymous with sports in East Africa. Recognising that talent is multifaceted, KCB Foundation launched a Sports Scholarship Programme in 2024, supporting 50 athletically gifted students to complete their secondary education.
d) Environmental stewardship: Advancing a greener future
Recognising climate change as a critical global challenge, KCB Foundation is advancing sustainability in Kenya. A key initiative is promoting clean cooking in schools by facilitating access to Liquified Petroleum gas (LPG) systems, reducing reliance on traditional biomass especially in learning institutions. The initiative aligns with the Kenya Energy Transition & Investment Plan (ETIP) targeting six decarbonisation technologies that will anchor a transition pathway, including renewables, electrification, and clean cooking.
e) Livestock development: Transforming rural economies
In Kenya’s Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASALs), livestock is central to livelihoods but faces structural challenges. The Mifugo Ni Mali programme empowers over 3,000 livestock keepers, and has trained 154 co-operatives in governance, business planning, and finance to strengthen long-term sustainability. It has also facilitated over KShs. 150 million in co-operative loans, boosting investment in infrastructure and technology. As a result, milk production has increased by 45%, improving incomes and food security while connecting producers to competitive markets.
Banking is one of Africa’s most valuable yet competitive industries. How will KCB leverage its position as one of Africa's strongest banking brands to maintain and grow its position as new entrants from other regions and industries enter the scene?
KCB Group is the largest indigenous bank in East Africa, with assets of over USD16.6 billion and a presence in seven countries—Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—and a representative office in Ethiopia. KCB operates three banking brands—KCB Bank, BPR Bank and Trust Merchant Bank (TMB)—alongside KCB Bancassurance Intermediary Limited, KCB Investment Bank and KCB Foundation. With 130 years of experience, we understand local markets and cultures, enabling tailored solutions across the region.
We serve over 35 million customers through 500 branches, 1,249 ATMs, and 1.3 million agents and merchants, complemented by mobile and internet banking and a 24-hour contact centre. Our correspondent network spans over 200 banks globally, supporting seamless international trade.
This is powered by over 12,000 customer-obsessed staff dedicated to serving customers and transforming communities. As we look to the future, we are building on this rich heritage with fresh ideas that are enabling everyone we touch to build a better, sustainable tomorrow for generations to come.
