Team size: Three

Major legal advisors: Dentons (Kenya, Bowmans ( Kenya), Trinity (UK) Kaplan and Stratton (Kenya)

Jurisdictions your role covers: Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius, UK, Congo, Sierra Leone, Ghana

Q&A

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in? 

Over the past year, I have led legal support for several complex structured finance and investment transactions that reflect the growing sophistication of East Africa’s capital markets. One of our most significant mandates has been acting as Securitisation Trustee and SPV Administrator on the securitisation of Kenya Roads Board (KRB) Fuel Levy receivables. Our role extends beyond transaction execution to the ongoing administration and governance of the issuer SPV, trustee oversight, stakeholder coordination and ensuring continued compliance throughout the life of the transaction.

In light of increasing regulatory scrutiny across sectors in East Africa, how are you adapting your compliance frameworks to stay ahead of change?

As Head of Legal and Compliance, I oversee compliance across multiple regulated business lines, including trustee services, capital markets, collective investment schemes, pension trusteeship, SPV administration and corporate services. This requires continuous monitoring of regulatory developments and translating legal obligations into practical business processes. 

We have strengthened our compliance framework through regulatory horizon scanning, obligation mapping across multiple regulators, compliance calendars, policy reviews and enhanced reporting to management and the Board. By embedding compliance into business operations rather than treating it as a periodic exercise, we are able to respond proactively to regulatory change while supporting innovation and maintaining high standards of governance and fiduciary accountability.

How do you navigate the legal complexities of cross-border transactions within the East African Community (EAC) and beyond?

Many of the transactions we support involve cross-border investors, lenders and counterparties, requiring careful coordination across multiple legal and regulatory frameworks. My approach is to identify jurisdiction-specific legal requirements at an early stage, work closely with external counsel and ensure transaction structures remain commercially effective while complying with local law. 

As trustee and SPV administrator, we occupy a unique position that requires balancing the interests of issuers, lenders, investors and service providers over the life of a transaction. This involves coordinating security arrangements, governance requirements, corporate actions and ongoing regulatory compliance across jurisdictions. By combining legal expertise with practical commercial understanding, we help deliver transactions that are robust, efficient and capable of supporting long-term investment into the region.