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Jennifer Riria

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Biography

Group: 
SWWB Board
Role: 
Vice Chair
Jennifer Riria

Dr. Jennifer Riria is a PHD holder and is distinguished as a Microfinance Banker and Practitioner, Researcher, and Gender Specialist. She has spent all her adult life in building and contributing to systems that empower the majority; and in particular women’s empowerment and development. She has been recognized nationally for her contribution in development and has been awarded “Moran of the Burning Spear”, (MBS), a national medal, certificate of contribution.

Dr. Jennifer Riria is a public figure known for her effective leadership, nationally and internationally in the Microfinance Sector.

To mention but a few of her service centers to the majority:

  • CEO of Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) – the largest Microfinance Institution working with over 200,000 clients, and with an outstanding portfolio of 4.2billion (US$63,636,363) and an asset base of 3.8billion (US$57,575,757).
  • Vice-Chair of Women’s World Banking Board (2008) and Executive Committee member for over 15 years.
  • She served as the Chairman of Post Office Savings Bank – the largest and only savings bank serving over a million clients with a portfolio of more than Kshs. 20 billion for four years. In the successful four years, she successfully influenced banking practices and overall management of the Bank.
  • Founder and Board member of Jitegemee Trust Ltd – a second tier Microfinance Institution that supports major players in the microfinance industry and Saccos.
  • Board Member, National Bank for over 10 (ten) years.
  • One of the founder members and Chair of AMAF.
  • Dr Riria has and continues to serve in various commissions on policy change agenda in Kenya’s development. She is currently serving on “Kenya Vision 2030” Operations Committee.
  • She has just concluded her participation on the Presidential appointed Board on Higher Education in Kenya which came up with landmark change agenda in higher education.

Formerly, Dr. Riria has served in many other Boards and was the first woman Board Member of the Nairobi Stock Exchange.

As an Academic, Dr. Riria is a National and International Researcher, a long list of papers, all focusing on financial services and empowerment of the majority, and in particular, low income women.

Her Vision is “To lead women to transforming the way the World works where women have ample access to productive resources, for wealth and assets creation, a World with less suffering and supportive sustainable legal and economic structures, for them and their families and ensure respect for the girl child and the woman”.

Dr Riria is a caring and proud mother of 3 teenage daughters and a grandmother to 4 beautiful grandchildren.

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