James MWORIA

Dr. James Mworia, MBS
Visionary Business Leader | Architect of TRIFIC | Champion of Innovation in Kenya

Dr. James Mworia is the Group CEO and Managing Director of Centum Investment Company Plc, East Africa’s leading listed investment company. Under his transformative leadership, Centum has grown from an asset base of just USD 40 million to over USD 400 million—without shareholder dilution—delivering strong investor returns and over USD 40 million  in dividends.

Dr. Mworia is the visionary architect of TRIFIC (The Regional Financial & Innovation Centre), Kenya’s first Services Special Economic Zone and one of only three International Financial Centers in Africa recognized by the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC). As part of Centum’s portfolio, TRIFIC has positioned Kenya as a premier destination for global finance and outsourcing services.

Over his distinguished career, Dr. Mworia has successfully scaled businesses across banking, asset management, bottling, automotive, education, housing, green energy, and industrial real estate. Centum companies have accounted for over 20% of Kenya’s private equity exits, with a USD-based internal rate of return (IRR) averaging 21%.

He currently serves as the Chairman of Sidian Bank, which Centum acquired as a small lender and has since grown into a leading bank focused on empowering Kenyan enterprises and SMEs. He previously served on the board of the Nairobi Securities Exchange, contributing to the governance and modernization of Kenya’s capital markets.

Dr. Mworia is also deeply committed to environmental conservation. As Chair of The Nature Conservancy Africa Council, he helped launch the USD 1 billion Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) to fund long-term biodiversity and climate efforts in Kenya. He serves on the boards of  Loldaiga Conservancies.

A strong advocate for education and youth empowerment, Dr. Mworia personally funds the Chancellor’s Scholarship Fund at Machakos University, providing scholarships to over 200 bright, underprivileged STEM students. Through Ajiry, a Centum initiative in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, over 20,000 Kenyan youth have gained employment and digital skills.

In recognition of his national impact, Dr. Mworia was awarded the Moran of the Burning Spear by the President of Kenya in December 2024—one of the country’s highest civilian honors.