Our leadership team comprises of a Board of Directors and Executive Team who together have diverse expertise bringing together strong leadership, in-depth industry knowledge, and extensive experience.
Team Members
Edward Kirathe
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Edward is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Acorn Holdings Ltd. He has about 25 years’ experience in the Real Estate sector in East Africa. Acorn Holdings is focused on developing and managing high quality and affordable rental housing in Kenya, starting with purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), for university and college students.
In October 2019, Edward led Acorn to issue the first Green Housing Bond in Africa which, in January 2020, became the first Green Bond to be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and then the first Kenya Shilling Bond to list on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Subsequently, in February 2021, he again led Acorn to successfully launch the Acorn Student Accommodation D-REIT and I-REIT with a combined Asset Under Management of KES 7.5 billion. The REITs are managed by Acorn Investment Management Limited (AIML), a wholly owned subsidiary of Acorn Holdings Ltd.
Edward is also the founder Chairman of the REITs Association of Kenya, a role he served in until October 2020. He is actively involved in developing avenues for sustainable investment in affordable housing through the Capital Markets.
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Mathew Maina
Executive Director – AIML
Mathew is the Executive Director (Ag) of AIML and is responsible for overseeing the REIT management business which includes investor relations, asset management, governance, and our retail aggregator platform VUKA. He continues to lead Institutional fund raising as Director of Investor Relations, a role he has held from 2021 when he joined the firm following the launch of the ASA REITs, deepening the market and aggregating over KES 4.7 billion of Equity Capital from local investors to date.
Mathew has over 15 years of experience in Investment Management and Administration of Funds including Segregated Retirement Funds in East and South Africa. He previously worked for over a decade with the leading Actuarial Consultancy firm, Zamara Group Ltd (formerly Alexander Forbes) where he held various senior roles, including Lead Consultant and Administrator for the National Housing Development Fund.
He has been a guest speaker at numerous local and international investment forums, invited by esteemed investment houses, regulators and by prestigious universities to speak on REITs in their various post graduate programs. Mathew holds a bachelor’s degree (Honors) in Actuarial Science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology (JKUAT), is a Certified Full Member (FA/00945) of the Institute of Certified Investment and Financial Analysts (ICIFA) and also holds certifications from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI).
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Steve Wood
Executive Director, Health, Safety, Security & Environmental (HSSE)
Steve Wood joined Acorn Holdings Limited in 2021 and serves as the HSSE Management Director, bringing over 38 years of extensive experience in Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE).Prior to this role, he was a Senior HSE Manager in Riyadh, KSA, from June 2019 to November 2021, and held the position of Regional Manager for Safety, Health & Environment and Worker Welfare from February 2017 to May 2019.
Steve also served as the Director of Worker Welfare at EXPO 2020. His extensive career includes roles such as Safety, Health & Environment VP and Director at Earth Tech / AECOM, Group Health and Safety Director at Cammell Laird Holdings Plc, and National Safety Manager and Regional Safety Manager at Birse Construction Ltd from. Steve began his professional journey at British Coal Corporation, where he held various positions including Deputy, Supervisor, Safety Engineer, and Section 9 / 10 Mine Manager.Throughout his career, Steve has demonstrated his commitment to occupational safety and health, obtaining certifications such as ISO 14001 Lead Auditor and OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER trainer.
As a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (CMIOSH) for three decades, Steve has shared his expertise at conferences worldwide, addressing topics like Fire Safety in GCC and Ethical Conduct and Compliance.Beyond his professional duties, Steve is deeply passionate about people’s well-being, serving as a mentor and offering guidance to individuals in both their professional and personal lives.
Driven by a desire to make a lasting impact in Kenya, Steve is dedicated to sharing his wealth of experience, wisdom, and professionalism with like-minded individuals. Outside of work, Steve enjoys supporting his hometown football club and has a genuine enthusiasm for gadgets, innovation, and technology.
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Washington Gichuru
Head of IT
Washington, a Kenyan citizen, joined Acorn as a Systems Analyst in 2016. He has been responsible for the deployment, implementation and support of various software applications in the organization.
Prior to joining Acorn, he worked for over 10 years in the US as a Senior Software Engineer in various industries including Telcom, Hospitality, Media, and IT Services.
Washington holds a Bachelor of Computer Information Systems with a minor in Finance from USA. He is COBIT 5 certified, is a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and is also a Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) professional.
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Peter Njenga
Chief External Affairs & Finance Officer
Peter, a Kenyan citizen, is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya, having earned his qualification from Strathmore Business School in 1998. His professional journey began in a prominent audit firm, where he served as a Tax/Management Consultant. Peter has actively pursued executive and leadership training programs, enhancing his skills in senior-level management and leadership. Before joining Acorn in 2007, Peter held various leadership roles in different organizations, contributing significant expertise to his current position.
With over 15 years of experience at Acorn, he has been instrumental in shaping the business’s strategic direction and driving financial, tax, and operational efficiencies. Peter is also a proud member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).
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Jackie Rozario
Senior Executive Director, Property Operations
Jackie, a Ugandan national, is a seasoned Customer Experience Professional with over 15 years of expertise. She currently serves as the Property Management Director at Acorn.Before joining Acorn in April 2019, Jackie held the position of Customer Experience Director in the Telecom Industry. Additionally, she contributed her skills to the Pay-TV sector in Kenya, holding a senior management role as the Head of Operations.
Her journey in Customer Experience began in the Telcom Industry at Celtel in Uganda, later transitioning to Zain and Airtel. Jackie has played pivotal roles in both Ugandan and Kenyan markets, progressing to the position of Head of Retail Operations and Customer Experience Management. Jackie is an alumna of Makerere University, where she earned her Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting.
She also holds an MBA in Strategic Management from Edinburgh Business School and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Professional. She additionally holds a Higher Diploma in Marketing from Makerere University and is passionate about youth and Tech.In her personal space, she is an avid reader of past leaders in all fields and their Biographies and watches football, particularly Manchester United games.
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Sheila Moraa
Executive Director, Development Management
Sheila is a Kenyan citizen with over 14 years of Project Management experience in the built environment and renewable energy sector. She is passionate about promoting sustainable development in the built environment and utilizing opportunities in the green space to further grow this in the local context.
Currently as Head of ESG at AIML; an integrated Real Estate company providing student accommodation, Sheila is managing green certification and GRESB certification of the company portfolio. These have a positive impact holistically on the policies and practices of the company and its stakeholders regarding ESG.
Previously, Sheila worked in the Oil & Gas and the energy industries (Total Kenya Ltd. & KenGen) both at the project and regulatory levels influencing policy formulation while at Energy Regulatory Commission. Sheila is a trained Civil Engineer currently completing an executive Masters program at Strathmore University, certified PRINCE2 practitioner and an EDGE Expert. Sheila also sits in the board of Kenya Green Building Society.
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Sarah Omaya
Director, Human Resource
Sarah Juliet Nyaboch Omaya is a seasoned HR Business Leader with over 13 years of experience across diverse sectors including Public Sector conferencing, Security & Safety, Manufacturing, and Industrial fields. She specializes in Strategic HR Business Partnership, Rewards Management, Change Management, Performance Management, and Project Leadership. She has held key roles in leading organizations such as, Jeff Hamilton, Davis & Shirtliff Ltd., and Africa Biosystems Ltd., driving institutional governance, process improvement, and HR management. Sarah has consistently delivered commendable results.
She dedicates her time outside of work to supporting initiatives that uplift the less fortunate and individuals with special needs, particularly focusing on educational and mentorship programs for youth. Sarah also sits in the Jeff Hamilton Board.
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Dennis Aluanga
Chairman and Non- Executive Director
Dennis, a Kenyan national, has 27 years of relevant professional experience. Prior to joining Helios in July 2011, he was the COO (East Africa) of Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), the Manufacturing and Infrastructure arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. IPS has investments in several portfolio companies in food and agro-processing, packaging, pharmaceutical, textiles, steel, and leather processing industries as well as power generation and telecoms across East Africa. He also served in the roles of COO, CFO, Group Strategy Manager and Group Audit Manager at Nation Media Group (NMG). NMG’s operations in the region spread across newspapers, television, radio, magazines, and digital media.
Dennis serves on the Boards of Directors of Acorn and Telkom Kenya, as well as on the Board of Nation Media Group. He received an MBA from Edinburgh University in UK and is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
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Ali Joomun
Non-Executive Director
Ali Joomun joined Intercontinental Trust Limited (“ITL”) in 2008 and he is currently a Senior Manager in one of the Corporate Services team at ITL. He oversees operations of a portfolio of companies (both listed and non-listed) and trusts based in Mauritius. He also manages Seychelles based corporate entities (including Companies with Special Licence, International Business Companies and trusts).
He acquired exceptional international business experiences and has been assisting various group of clients including investment banks listed on the New York Stock Exchange and one of the leading private equity firm investing throughout the African continent. He sits on various committees and working groups including the real estate committee of ITL and is involved in co-ordinating special corporate transactions.
He graduated from the University of Mauritius with a B.Sc (Hons) Management and is an affiliate member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK. Lastly, he sits as director on the board of various global business companies under the administration of ITL.
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Vishma Boyjonauth
Non-Executive Director
Vishma Boyjonauth joined Intercontinental Trust Limited (“ITL”) in 2004 and she is currently a Senior Manager in a Corporate Services Department. She leads a team in the Corporate Services Department and oversees the operations division such as incorporation of companies, advising on company structures, regulatory matters and corporate administration of companies for both domestic and global business companies in Mauritius.
The extensive experience acquired in the global business sector by managing a portfolio of clients ranging from international banks to private client for over 15 years has provided Vishma with the skills and abilities to sit on the board of various global business companies under the management of ITL. Her opinion is valued by the other board members.
She is also actively involved in various innovative projects which are geared towards increasing the efficiency drive within ITL. She has also acquired full set of technical skills to manage people and service clients and attended several trainings, workshops and conferences in company secretarial matters, AML/CFT laws as well as leadership. Vishma graduated from the University of Mauritius with a B.Sc (Hons) in Economics. She also holds a MBA in Innovation & Leadership (with Merit) awarded jointly by the University of Mauritius and Ducere Global Business School.
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Peter Njenga
Chief External Affairs & Finance Officer
Peter, a Kenyan citizen, is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya, having earned his qualification from Strathmore Business School in 1998. His professional journey began in a prominent audit firm, where he served as a Tax/Management Consultant. Peter has actively pursued executive and leadership training programs, enhancing his skills in senior-level management and leadership. Before joining Acorn in 2007, Peter held various leadership roles in different organizations, contributing significant expertise to his current position.
With over 15 years of experience at Acorn, he has been instrumental in shaping the business’s strategic direction and driving financial, tax, and operational efficiencies. Peter is also a proud member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).
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Edward Kirathe
Executive Director
Edward is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Acorn Holdings Ltd. He has about 25 years’ experience in the Real Estate sector in East Africa. Acorn Holdings is focused on developing and managing high quality and affordable rental housing in Kenya, starting with purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), for university and college students.
In October 2019, Edward led Acorn to issue the first Green Housing Bond in Africa which, in January 2020, became the first Green Bond to be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and then the first Kenya Shilling Bond to list on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Subsequently, in February 2021, he again led Acorn to successfully launch the Acorn Student Accommodation D-REIT and I-REIT with a combined Asset Under Management of KES 7.5 billion. The REITs are managed by Acorn Investment Management Limited (AIML), a wholly owned subsidiary of Acorn Holdings Ltd.
Edward is also the founder Chairman of the REITs Association of Kenya, a role he served in until October 2020. He is actively involved in developing avenues for sustainable investment in affordable housing through the Capital Markets.
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Timmo Kippo
Non-Executive Director
Timo has 19 years of experience in corporate finance, investment banking and private market investments. He joined Helios Investment Partners in 2023 as an Adviser, focused primarily on liquidity initiatives and portfolio management activities. Through his career, he has been extensively involved in mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and exits, debt financing and capital raising, and finance business partnership.
Prior to joining Helios, Timo worked as a senior M&A consultant for a European mid-market private equity fund. Previously, he spent 16 years in the investment banking business, most recently at Nomura International Plc. in London, where he was mainly focused on M&A advisory and leveraged finance.
Timo is a Finnish citizen, born and raised in Finland where he started his career in 2004 prior to moving to London in 2007. He holds M.Sc. Economics and Business Administration from Helsinki School of Economics (today known as Aalto University).
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Rose Mambo
Chair of AIML Board / Independent Non-Executive Director
Rose, a Kenyan citizen, is the current Chair of the AIML Board and immediate former CEO of the Central Depository & Settlement Corporation Ltd (CDSC), where she provided custody and settlement services for securities traded at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. She is a shareholder/director at Shady Acres Ltd and serves on the Boards of Development Bank of Kenya, Kenya Community Development Foundation, Digital Opportunity Trust and is Co-Vice Chair of the Women Corporate Directors – Kenya Chapter.
Rose is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Secretaries, Kenya. Rose has worked as a State Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers in the Public Trustee and Bankruptcy Sections. She also served on the Review of Companies Law Task Force, and later served as the Head of the Copyright Office.
She has a Master of Laws Degree from the American University in Washington DC, specializing in International Business Law, an MBA from Strathmore University, and a Bachelor of Laws Degree
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Peter Njenga
Executive Director
Peter, a Kenyan citizen, is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya, a qualification he earned from Strathmore Business School in 1998. Thereafter, he worked as a Tax/Management Consultant in a leading audit firm for four years.
He has over 15 years’ experience in senior level management where he has assisted businesses to develop and implement appropriate strategies to achieve financial, tax & operational efficiency. He is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK)
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Wangui Maranga-Okello
Non-Executive Director
Wangui Maranga-Okello, a Kenyan citizen, is financial services practitioner, and a board member with deep expertise in financial markets. She brings more than 20 years of unique cross-functional oversight leadership and hands-on experience in financial services, having worked both on the buy-side (portfolio and asset management), as well the sell-side (corporate finance advisory, real estate project financing & capital raising, debt and equity structuring) in East Africa.
Her strong working relationships with a vast network of institutional investors (including all major fund managers, insurance, reinsurance companies, as well as international Development Finance Institutions and regulatory bodies such as the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) and Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) has positioned her in good stead in the financial market ecosystem.
She held the position of Director of Investor Relations and Reporting at Acorn Holdings Limited for over 2 years before becoming a board member of the AIML Board.
Wangui holds an MBA in Finance from University of Leicester, Bachelor of Commerce from University of Nairobi, is a qualified accountant with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and has a Higher Diploma from the Institute for the Management of Information Systems (IMIS).
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Claire Jarratt
Non-Executive Director
Claire is a British citizen and also a finance and investment management specialist, with over two decades of impressive career spanning; audit and assurance, corporate and project finance, M&A, deal origination and investment management. As the Chief Investment and Risk Officer of InfraCo Africa Limited, Claire oversees investment origination, appraisal/due diligence, and management and risk.
Prior to joining InfraCo Africa in 2012, Claire was Assistant Director at International Power PLC (now part of the Engie group), leading corporate and project finance initiatives. She had a stint as Merger and Acquisition Manager and Commercial Manager at YUM, the investment holding company of Pizza Hut and KFC. She was also an Assistant Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, United Kingdom, where she spent half a decade specializing in providing audit and assurance services to mid and large-cap firms in Greater London.
Claire is an alumnus of Jesus College, Oxford University and is ACA qualified with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Claire, a sport enthusiast, is a keen skier and gym goer and, a enjoys running – she participated in the New York Marathon 1999 and London Marathon 2006.
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Edward Kirathe
Executive Director
Edward is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Acorn Holdings Limited. He has over 25 years’ experience in the Real Estate sector in East Africa. Acorn Holdings is focused on developing and managing quality and affordable rental housing in Kenya, starting with purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), for university and college students.
In October 2019, Edward led Acorn to issue the first Green Housing Bond in Africa which, in January 2020, became the first Green Bond to be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and then the first Kenya Shilling Bond to list on the International Securities Market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Subsequently, in February 2021, he led Acorn to successfully launch the Acorn Student Accommodation D-REIT and I-REIT with a combined Asset Under Management of KES 7.5 billion. Today, Acorn has the largest PBSA portfolio in Africa comprising over 15,000 beds, of which over 6,000 are operational.
Edward was the Founding Chairman of the REITs Association of Kenya, a role he served in until October 2020. He is actively involved in developing avenues for sustainable investment in affordable housing through the Capital Markets.
Edward has been a guest speaker at several international conferences and events, including for the World Bank, Harvard, the University of Wisconsin, Urban Land Institute, the New York Stock Exchange, and the London Stock Exchange. Edward has been a guest speaker at several international conferences and events, including for the World Bank, the University of Wisconsin, Urban Land Institute, the New York Stock Exchange, and the London Stock Exchange.
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Dr. Winnie Nyamute
Independent Non-Executive Director
Winnie is a Kenyan citizen and a full-time Senior Lecturer and Consultant in the Department of Finance and Accounting at the University of Nairobi.
She has served on the board of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), Sameer Africa PLC, the board of trustees of NSE Clear and currently that of KCA University. She has chaired the audit, risk management and governance committees of both NSE and Sameer. Other committees served include Disciplinary, Listing and Admissions, Nominations and Remunerations, Derivatives Risk Management, Self-Listing, and the Audit Quality Assurance. Winnie was appointed to the board of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) in November 2019.
She holds a PhD in Business Administration (Finance), an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Accounting. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).
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Timmo Kippo
Non-Executive Director
Timo has 19 years of experience in corporate finance, investment banking and private market investments. He joined Helios Investment Partners in 2023 as an Adviser, focused primarily on liquidity initiatives and portfolio management activities. Through his career, he has been extensively involved in mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and exits, debt financing and capital raising, and finance business partnership.
Prior to joining Helios, Timo worked as a senior M&A consultant for a European mid-market private equity fund. Previously, he spent 16 years in the investment banking business, most recently at Nomura International Plc. in London, where he was mainly focused on M&A advisory and leveraged finance.
Timo is a Finnish citizen, born and raised in Finland where he started his career in 2004 prior to moving to London in 2007. He holds M.Sc. Economics and Business Administration from Helsinki School of Economics (today known as Aalto University).
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Edward Kirathe
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Edward is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Acorn Holdings Ltd. He has about 25 years’ experience in the Real Estate sector in East Africa. Acorn Holdings is focused on developing and managing high quality and affordable rental housing in Kenya, starting with purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), for university and college students.
In October 2019, Edward led Acorn to issue the first Green Housing Bond in Africa which, in January 2020, became the first Green Bond to be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and then the first Kenya Shilling Bond to list on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Subsequently, in February 2021, he again led Acorn to successfully launch the Acorn Student Accommodation D-REIT and I-REIT with a combined Asset Under Management of KES 7.5 billion. The REITs are managed by Acorn Investment Management Limited (AIML), a wholly owned subsidiary of Acorn Holdings Ltd.
Edward is also the founder Chairman of the REITs Association of Kenya, a role he served in until October 2020. He is actively involved in developing avenues for sustainable investment in affordable housing through the Capital Markets.
Close
Peter Njenga
Chief External Affairs & Finance Officer
Peter, a Kenyan citizen, is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya, having earned his qualification from Strathmore Business School in 1998. His professional journey began in a prominent audit firm, where he served as a Tax/Management Consultant. Peter has actively pursued executive and leadership training programs, enhancing his skills in senior-level management and leadership. Before joining Acorn in 2007, Peter held various leadership roles in different organizations, contributing significant expertise to his current position.
With over 15 years of experience at Acorn, he has been instrumental in shaping the business’s strategic direction and driving financial, tax, and operational efficiencies. Peter is also a proud member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).
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Mathew Maina
Executive Director – AIML
Mathew is the Executive Director (Ag) of AIML and is responsible for overseeing the REIT management business which includes investor relations, asset management, governance, and our retail aggregator platform VUKA. He continues to lead Institutional fund raising as Director of Investor Relations, a role he has held from 2021 when he joined the firm following the launch of the ASA REITs, deepening the market and aggregating over KES 4.7 billion of Equity Capital from local investors to date.
Mathew has over 15 years of experience in Investment Management and Administration of Funds including Segregated Retirement Funds in East and South Africa. He previously worked for over a decade with the leading Actuarial Consultancy firm, Zamara Group Ltd (formerly Alexander Forbes) where he held various senior roles, including Lead Consultant and Administrator for the National Housing Development Fund.
He has been a guest speaker at numerous local and international investment forums, invited by esteemed investment houses, regulators and by prestigious universities to speak on REITs in their various post graduate programs. Mathew holds a bachelor’s degree (Honors) in Actuarial Science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology (JKUAT), is a Certified Full Member (FA/00945) of the Institute of Certified Investment and Financial Analysts (ICIFA) and also holds certifications from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI).
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Jackie Rozario
Senior Executive Director, Property Operations
Jackie, a Ugandan national, is a seasoned Customer Experience Professional with over 15 years of expertise. She currently serves as the Property Management Director at Acorn.Before joining Acorn in April 2019, Jackie held the position of Customer Experience Director in the Telecom Industry. Additionally, she contributed her skills to the Pay-TV sector in Kenya, holding a senior management role as the Head of Operations.
Her journey in Customer Experience began in the Telcom Industry at Celtel in Uganda, later transitioning to Zain and Airtel. Jackie has played pivotal roles in both Ugandan and Kenyan markets, progressing to the position of Head of Retail Operations and Customer Experience Management. Jackie is an alumna of Makerere University, where she earned her Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting.
She also holds an MBA in Strategic Management from Edinburgh Business School and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Professional. She additionally holds a Higher Diploma in Marketing from Makerere University and is passionate about youth and Tech.In her personal space, she is an avid reader of past leaders in all fields and their Biographies and watches football, particularly Manchester United games.
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Steve Wood
Executive Director, Health, Safety, Security & Environmental (HSSE)
Steve Wood joined Acorn Holdings Limited in 2021 and serves as the HSSE Management Director, bringing over 38 years of extensive experience in Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE).Prior to this role, he was a Senior HSE Manager in Riyadh, KSA, from June 2019 to November 2021, and held the position of Regional Manager for Safety, Health & Environment and Worker Welfare from February 2017 to May 2019.
Steve also served as the Director of Worker Welfare at EXPO 2020. His extensive career includes roles such as Safety, Health & Environment VP and Director at Earth Tech / AECOM, Group Health and Safety Director at Cammell Laird Holdings Plc, and National Safety Manager and Regional Safety Manager at Birse Construction Ltd from. Steve began his professional journey at British Coal Corporation, where he held various positions including Deputy, Supervisor, Safety Engineer, and Section 9 / 10 Mine Manager.Throughout his career, Steve has demonstrated his commitment to occupational safety and health, obtaining certifications such as ISO 14001 Lead Auditor and OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER trainer.
As a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (CMIOSH) for three decades, Steve has shared his expertise at conferences worldwide, addressing topics like Fire Safety in GCC and Ethical Conduct and Compliance.Beyond his professional duties, Steve is deeply passionate about people’s well-being, serving as a mentor and offering guidance to individuals in both their professional and personal lives.
Driven by a desire to make a lasting impact in Kenya, Steve is dedicated to sharing his wealth of experience, wisdom, and professionalism with like-minded individuals. Outside of work, Steve enjoys supporting his hometown football club and has a genuine enthusiasm for gadgets, innovation, and technology.
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Washington Gichuru
Head of IT
Washington, a Kenyan citizen, joined Acorn as a Systems Analyst in 2016. He has been responsible for the deployment, implementation and support of various software applications in the organization.
Prior to joining Acorn, he worked for over 10 years in the US as a Senior Software Engineer in various industries including Telcom, Hospitality, Media, and IT Services.
Washington holds a Bachelor of Computer Information Systems with a minor in Finance from USA. He is COBIT 5 certified, is a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and is also a Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) professional.
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Sheila Moraa
Executive Director, Development Management
Sheila is a Kenyan citizen with over 14 years of Project Management experience in the built environment and renewable energy sector. She is passionate about promoting sustainable development in the built environment and utilizing opportunities in the green space to further grow this in the local context.
Currently as Head of ESG at AIML; an integrated Real Estate company providing student accommodation, Sheila is managing green certification and GRESB certification of the company portfolio. These have a positive impact holistically on the policies and practices of the company and its stakeholders regarding ESG.
Previously, Sheila worked in the Oil & Gas and the energy industries (Total Kenya Ltd. & KenGen) both at the project and regulatory levels influencing policy formulation while at Energy Regulatory Commission. Sheila is a trained Civil Engineer currently completing an executive Masters program at Strathmore University, certified PRINCE2 practitioner and an EDGE Expert. Sheila also sits in the board of Kenya Green Building Society.
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Sarah Omaya
Director, Human Resource
Sarah Juliet Nyaboch Omaya is a seasoned HR Business Leader with over 13 years of experience across diverse sectors including Public Sector conferencing, Security & Safety, Manufacturing, and Industrial fields. She specializes in Strategic HR Business Partnership, Rewards Management, Change Management, Performance Management, and Project Leadership. She has held key roles in leading organizations such as, Jeff Hamilton, Davis & Shirtliff Ltd., and Africa Biosystems Ltd., driving institutional governance, process improvement, and HR management. Sarah has consistently delivered commendable results.
She dedicates her time outside of work to supporting initiatives that uplift the less fortunate and individuals with special needs, particularly focusing on educational and mentorship programs for youth. Sarah also sits in the Jeff Hamilton Board.
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Dennis Aluanga
Chairman and Non- Executive Director
Dennis, a Kenyan national, has 27 years of relevant professional experience. Prior to joining Helios in July 2011, he was the COO (East Africa) of Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), the Manufacturing and Infrastructure arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. IPS has investments in several portfolio companies in food and agro-processing, packaging, pharmaceutical, textiles, steel, and leather processing industries as well as power generation and telecoms across East Africa. He also served in the roles of COO, CFO, Group Strategy Manager and Group Audit Manager at Nation Media Group (NMG). NMG’s operations in the region spread across newspapers, television, radio, magazines, and digital media.
Dennis serves on the Boards of Directors of Acorn and Telkom Kenya, as well as on the Board of Nation Media Group. He received an MBA from Edinburgh University in UK and is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
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Ali Joomun
Non-Executive Director
Ali Joomun joined Intercontinental Trust Limited (“ITL”) in 2008 and he is currently a Senior Manager in one of the Corporate Services team at ITL. He oversees operations of a portfolio of companies (both listed and non-listed) and trusts based in Mauritius. He also manages Seychelles based corporate entities (including Companies with Special Licence, International Business Companies and trusts).
He acquired exceptional international business experiences and has been assisting various group of clients including investment banks listed on the New York Stock Exchange and one of the leading private equity firm investing throughout the African continent. He sits on various committees and working groups including the real estate committee of ITL and is involved in co-ordinating special corporate transactions.
He graduated from the University of Mauritius with a B.Sc (Hons) Management and is an affiliate member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK. Lastly, he sits as director on the board of various global business companies under the administration of ITL.
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Timmo Kippo
Non-Executive Director
Timo has 19 years of experience in corporate finance, investment banking and private market investments. He joined Helios Investment Partners in 2023 as an Adviser, focused primarily on liquidity initiatives and portfolio management activities. Through his career, he has been extensively involved in mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and exits, debt financing and capital raising, and finance business partnership.
Prior to joining Helios, Timo worked as a senior M&A consultant for a European mid-market private equity fund. Previously, he spent 16 years in the investment banking business, most recently at Nomura International Plc. in London, where he was mainly focused on M&A advisory and leveraged finance.
Timo is a Finnish citizen, born and raised in Finland where he started his career in 2004 prior to moving to London in 2007. He holds M.Sc. Economics and Business Administration from Helsinki School of Economics (today known as Aalto University).
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Edward Kirathe
Executive Director
Edward is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Acorn Holdings Ltd. He has about 25 years’ experience in the Real Estate sector in East Africa. Acorn Holdings is focused on developing and managing high quality and affordable rental housing in Kenya, starting with purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), for university and college students.
In October 2019, Edward led Acorn to issue the first Green Housing Bond in Africa which, in January 2020, became the first Green Bond to be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and then the first Kenya Shilling Bond to list on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Subsequently, in February 2021, he again led Acorn to successfully launch the Acorn Student Accommodation D-REIT and I-REIT with a combined Asset Under Management of KES 7.5 billion. The REITs are managed by Acorn Investment Management Limited (AIML), a wholly owned subsidiary of Acorn Holdings Ltd.
Edward is also the founder Chairman of the REITs Association of Kenya, a role he served in until October 2020. He is actively involved in developing avenues for sustainable investment in affordable housing through the Capital Markets.
Close
Peter Njenga
Executive Director
Peter, a Kenyan citizen, is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya, a qualification he earned from Strathmore Business School in 1998. Thereafter, he worked as a Tax/Management Consultant in a leading audit firm for four years.
He has over 15 years’ experience in senior level management where he has assisted businesses to develop and implement appropriate strategies to achieve financial, tax & operational efficiency. He is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).
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Vishma Boyjonauth
Non-Executive Director
Vishma Boyjonauth joined Intercontinental Trust Limited (“ITL”) in 2004 and she is currently a Senior Manager in a Corporate Services Department. She leads a team in the Corporate Services Department and oversees the operations division such as incorporation of companies, advising on company structures, regulatory matters and corporate administration of companies for both domestic and global business companies in Mauritius.
The extensive experience acquired in the global business sector by managing a portfolio of clients ranging from international banks to private client for over 15 years has provided Vishma with the skills and abilities to sit on the board of various global business companies under the management of ITL. Her opinion is valued by the other board members.
She is also actively involved in various innovative projects which are geared towards increasing the efficiency drive within ITL. She has also acquired full set of technical skills to manage people and service clients and attended several trainings, workshops and conferences in company secretarial matters, AML/CFT laws as well as leadership. Vishma graduated from the University of Mauritius with a B.Sc (Hons) in Economics. She also holds a MBA in Innovation & Leadership (with Merit) awarded jointly by the University of Mauritius and Ducere Global Business School.
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Rose Mambo
Chair of AIML Board / Independent Non-Executive Director
Rose, a Kenyan citizen, is the current Chair of the AIML Board and immediate former CEO of the Central Depository & Settlement Corporation Ltd (CDSC), where she provided custody and settlement services for securities traded at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. She is a shareholder/director at Shady Acres Ltd and serves on the Boards of Development Bank of Kenya, Kenya Community Development Foundation, Digital Opportunity Trust and is Co-Vice Chair of the Women Corporate Directors – Kenya Chapter.
Rose is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Secretaries, Kenya. Rose has worked as a State Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers in the Public Trustee and Bankruptcy Sections. She also served on the Review of Companies Law Task Force, and later served as the Head of the Copyright Office.
She has a Master of Laws Degree from the American University in Washington DC, specializing in International Business Law, an MBA from Strathmore University, and a Bachelor of Laws
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Peter Njenga
Executive Director
Peter, a Kenyan citizen, is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya, a qualification he earned from Strathmore Business School in 1998. Thereafter, he worked as a Tax/Management Consultant in a leading audit firm for four years.
He has over 15 years’ experience in senior level management where he has assisted businesses to develop and implement appropriate strategies to achieve financial, tax & operational efficiency. He is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK)
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Wangui Maranga-Okello
Non-Executive Director
Wangui Maranga-Okello, a Kenyan citizen, is financial services practitioner, and a board member with deep expertise in financial markets. She brings more than 20 years of unique cross-functional oversight leadership and hands-on experience in financial services, having worked both on the buy-side (portfolio and asset management), as well the sell-side (corporate finance advisory, real estate project financing & capital raising, debt and equity structuring) in East Africa.
Her strong working relationships with a vast network of institutional investors (including all major fund managers, insurance, reinsurance companies, as well as international Development Finance Institutions and regulatory bodies such as the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) and Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) has positioned her in good stead in the financial market ecosystem.
She held the position of Director of Investor Relations and Reporting at Acorn Holdings Limited for over 2 years before becoming a board member of the AIML Board.
Wangui holds an MBA in Finance from University of Leicester, Bachelor of Commerce from University of Nairobi, is a qualified accountant with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and has a Higher Diploma from the Institute for the Management of Information Systems (IMIS).
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Claire Jarratt
Non-Executive Director
Claire is a British citizen and also a finance and investment management specialist, with over two decades of impressive career spanning; audit and assurance, corporate and project finance, M&A, deal origination and investment management. As the Chief Investment and Risk Officer of InfraCo Africa Limited, Claire oversees investment origination, appraisal/due diligence, and management and risk.
Prior to joining InfraCo Africa in 2012, Claire was Assistant Director at International Power PLC (now part of the Engie group), leading corporate and project finance initiatives. She had a stint as Merger and Acquisition Manager and Commercial Manager at YUM, the investment holding company of Pizza Hut and KFC. She was also an Assistant Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, United Kingdom, where she spent half a decade specializing in providing audit and assurance services to mid and large-cap firms in Greater London.
Claire is an alumnus of Jesus College, Oxford University and is ACA qualified with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Claire, a sport enthusiast, is a keen skier and gym goer and, a enjoys running – she participated in the New York Marathon 1999 and London Marathon 2006.
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Edward Kirathe
Executive Director
Edward is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Acorn Holdings Limited. He has over 25 years’ experience in the Real Estate sector in East Africa. Acorn Holdings is focused on developing and managing quality and affordable rental housing in Kenya, starting with purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), for university and college students.
In October 2019, Edward led Acorn to issue the first Green Housing Bond in Africa which, in January 2020, became the first Green Bond to be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and then the first Kenya Shilling Bond to list on the International Securities Market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Subsequently, in February 2021, he led Acorn to successfully launch the Acorn Student Accommodation D-REIT and I-REIT with a combined Asset Under Management of KES 7.5 billion. Today, Acorn has the largest PBSA portfolio in Africa comprising over 15,000 beds, of which over 6,000 are operational.
Edward was the Founding Chairman of the REITs Association of Kenya, a role he served in until October 2020. He is actively involved in developing avenues for sustainable investment in affordable housing through the Capital Markets.
Edward has been a guest speaker at several international conferences and events, including for the World Bank, Harvard, the University of Wisconsin, Urban Land Institute, the New York Stock Exchange, and the London Stock Exchange. Edward has been a guest speaker at several international conferences and events, including for the World Bank, the University of Wisconsin, Urban Land Institute, the New York Stock Exchange, and the London Stock Exchange.
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Dr. Winnie Nyamute
Independent Non-Executive Director
Winnie is a Kenyan citizen and a full-time Senior Lecturer and Consultant in the Department of Finance and Accounting at the University of Nairobi.
She has served on the board of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), Sameer Africa PLC, the board of trustees of NSE Clear and currently that of KCA University. She has chaired the audit, risk management and governance committees of both NSE and Sameer. Other committees served include Disciplinary, Listing and Admissions, Nominations and Remunerations, Derivatives Risk Management, Self-Listing, and the Audit Quality Assurance. Winnie was appointed to the board of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) in November 2019.
She holds a PhD in Business Administration (Finance), an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Accounting. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).
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Timmo Kippo
Non-Executive Director
Timo has 19 years of experience in corporate finance, investment banking and private market investments. He joined Helios Investment Partners in 2023 as an Adviser, focused primarily on liquidity initiatives and portfolio management activities. Through his career, he has been extensively involved in mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and exits, debt financing and capital raising, and finance business partnership.
Prior to joining Helios, Timo worked as a senior M&A consultant for a European mid-market private equity fund. Previously, he spent 16 years in the investment banking business, most recently at Nomura International Plc. in London, where he was mainly focused on M&A advisory and leveraged finance.
Timo is a Finnish citizen, born and raised in Finland where he started his career in 2004 prior to moving to London in 2007. He holds M.Sc. Economics and Business Administration from Helsinki School of Economics (today known as Aalto University).
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