Francis Okomo-Okello is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with nearly five decades of leadership experience across Kenya’s corporate, financial, legal, education, hospitality, and nonprofit sectors. He earned his law degree from the University of Dar es Salaam in 1974 and is an Albert Parvin Fellow of Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. He is also a Fellow of the Kenya Institute of Bankers.

Francis currently serves as Board Advisor to Industrial Promotion Services (East Africa), an affiliate of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, and as Group Chairman of TPS Eastern Africa, which operates Serena Hotels, Lodges, Camps, and Resorts.

Throughout his career, Francis has held numerous senior board and advisory positions. He is the immediate past Chairman of Absa Bank Kenya, formerly Barclays Bank of Kenya, and previously served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Absa Group and Absa Bank South Africa. He has also served as a Non-Executive Director of Nation Media Group, a member of the Advisory Board and an Executive Fellow at Strathmore University Business School, and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Aga Khan University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences in East Africa.

From 2006 to 2018, Francis served as a Trustee of the President’s Award–Kenya, a youth empowerment program affiliated with the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. He also runs an informal mentoring and coaching program in Nairobi for young professionals and entrepreneurs, reflecting his longstanding commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.

Francis served as Chairman of the Kenya Institute of Bankers from 1996 to 1997. In recognition of his service to the institute and the banking industry, he was awarded the title of Fellow of the Kenya Institute of Bankers in 2003, becoming one of the first ten banking professionals in Kenya to receive the distinction.

His contributions to Kenya have earned him several national and professional honors. In 2008, President Mwai Kibaki awarded him the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear for distinguished service to the nation. In 2010, The Nairobi Law Monthly named him one of Kenya’s 50 most influential lawyers. In 2022, President Uhuru Kenyatta awarded him the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear. He was also recognized by Business Monthly–East Africa Edition as one of the “Top 25 Most Impactful Chairs of Boards” in 2024.

Francis has a strong professional interest in business management, leadership, environmental issues, and sustainable development—subjects on which he has lectured and published widely.

Email: francis.okello@ipskenya.com