- Esther Masese Waititu has accumulated more than 15 years of expertise in finance, starting her professional journey at NCBA (previously known as the Commercial Bank of Africa).
- She began her journey as a graduate trainee, taking on different miscellaneous tasks prior to advancing to the position of customer service officer.
- Prior to her role at Safaricom, Esther served as the director of corporate banking at KCB. However, she currently heads up Safaricom’s M-PESA mobile money initiative.
Japhet Ruto, who works as an editor for CDRNEWS.co.ke, offers more than eight years of experience in finance, business, and technology. He provides comprehensive insights into economic patterns within Kenya and wider regions.
Esther Masese Waititu emerged from humble beginnings, beginning her journey as a bank receptionist before ascending the corporate ladder to become the Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom.
Esther Waititu's background
Esther, however, did not ever think about pursuing a career in finance during her youth.
In an interview with KTN News, she shared that she had fun engaging in debates during her high school days.
Consequently, she told her parents of her decision to pursue a career as a psychologist.
She explained that her curiosity revolved around understanding human emotions. She had a strong interest in sentiments, conversations, and essentially connecting with others.
How Esther Waititu came to study finance
Nevertheless, her parents advised her to pursue a career that would ensure "a meal on the table."
She had the option to follow in her father's footsteps and become a lawyer, but she felt that the academic requirements were too challenging.
Her parents recommended she pursue a career in business.
Following her completion of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), she barely fell short of the required scores to gain admission into the esteemed University of Nairobi (UoN).
Esther's challenges at Baraton University
She enrolled at the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, which is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventists, to pursue studies in Geography.
During her second year at Baraton, she changed her focus to business studies. Nonetheless, she faced various difficulties throughout this period.
Accounting, which depends significantly on mathematics, forms a crucial part of finance. She admitted that due to her difficulties with math, she did not pass her initial accounting course.
Afterwards, she enhanced her reading routines and started excelling in her accounting course.
She maintains, though, that achieving success in the finance sector demands more than mere proficiency in mathematics.
"Strategic planning and logical thinking are essential elements in finance. While calculators can handle the arithmetic, they won’t provide the correct solution unless you grasp the underlying rationale,” stated Esther, who was the eldest sibling among five children.
She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the university.
Esther Waititu's career
NCBA
Safaricom states that Esther has more than 15 years of financial expertise under her belt, starting her professional journey at NCBA, which was previously known as the Commercial Bank of Africa.
She began her journey as a graduate trainee, taking on different miscellaneous duties such as managing backend operations, issuing checks, and working as a cashier.
Subsequently, she was promoted to the role of customer service officer, with responsibilities that entailed greeting clients upon their arrival at the bank.
Her ambition for an expanded role motivated her to continue her education. She earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Liverpool in the UK.
Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic Bank, and KCB
From 2006 to 2011, Esther dedicated five years of her career to Standard Chartered Bank, where she held positions focused on relationship management and product management duties.
She subsequently joined Stanbic Bank, where she dedicated ten years to managing the financial institution's operations across East Africa as the regional head for transactional products and services.
In 2017, she assumed the position of executive for strategy development and enablement within the Corporate and Investment Bank. Then, in 2020, she was appointed as the country head for client coverage at Stanbic Bank Zambia.
In 2021, the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) subsequently provided her with a role as a director within their corporate banking division.
When was Esther Waititu appointed at Safaricom?
In February 2023, Esther took up the position of chief financial services officer at Safaricom.
She manages and guides Safaricom's financial services department with strategic vision.
The large telecom firm noted that she guides financial services groups and teams in crafting financial products, services, and solutions aimed at both consumers and businesses.
Esther heads up M-Pesa, a service utilized by more than 33 million people in Kenya.
M-Pesa turns 18
As reported earlier, M-Pesa celebrated its 18th anniversary on Friday, March 7.
Safaricom announced that their mobile money service reached 100 million transactions per day.
Since its launch in 2007, M-Pesa has catered to over 70 million customers globally.
Across Kenya, Ethiopia, and various other African countries, the mobile financial service sector comprises over a million enterprises and representatives.
In celebration of its 18th anniversary, the telecommunications company introduced the Ziidi Investment platform featuring the Ziidi Money Market Fund.