EXPOSED: Rift Between Absa Group and Former Absa Kenya CEO Abdi Mohamed Before Sudden Exit
Last Updated on June 29, 2026 by Joao Pedro
An X thread circulating online has claimed that former Absa Bank Kenya Managing Director and CEO Abdi Mohamed’s departure from the bank followed months of disagreements with Absa Group Chief Executive Officer Kenny Fihla over the lender’s business strategy.
The thread, published by the account BoardLotSultan, alleges that tensions began building in March 2026 as Absa Group sought to push the Kenyan subsidiary to increase lending while reducing its exposure to government securities.
According to the posts, Absa Group wanted more liquidity channelled into the loan book, arguing that the bank had become too defensive in its investment strategy. The thread claims senior management in Nairobi maintained that there were not enough large, bankable projects available to justify a rapid expansion of lending.
The posts further allege that the strategic differences widened over several months, prompting Abdi Mohamed to begin exploring other career opportunities.
The thread claims that on June 28, 2026, Mohamed informed Group CEO Kenny Fihla that he intended to resign and would serve the contractual three-month notice period.
According to the account, Fihla initially said he would call back. About two hours later, the thread alleges, Mohamed received instructions to clear his office immediately and hand over his responsibilities to Chief Financial Officer Yusuf Omari, with no requirement to serve the notice period.
If accurate, such an arrangement would represent an unusually swift departure for the chief executive of one of Kenya’s largest commercial banks. Senior executives at listed financial institutions typically serve transition periods to facilitate orderly handovers, unless both parties agree otherwise or there are contractual provisions allowing immediate release.
The X thread interprets the reported decision as evidence of strained relations between the outgoing Kenyan chief executive and Absa Group leadership. It suggests the move to I&M Bank may have been viewed internally as a significant strategic loss.
The claims contained in the thread have not been independently verified, and neither Absa Group, Absa Bank Kenya, Abdi Mohamed nor Kenny Fihla had publicly responded to the specific allegations at the time of publication.
Absa Bank Kenya announced last week that Mohamed would leave the bank to pursue another leadership opportunity after serving as chief executive for six years. The bank also announced that Yusuf Omari would serve as interim Managing Director and CEO pending regulatory approvals for a substantive appointment.
The circumstances surrounding Mohamed’s departure have attracted attention across Kenya’s banking industry, where leadership transitions at major lenders are closely watched because of their potential impact on strategy, investor confidence and competition within the sector.
Whether the online claims accurately describe events inside Absa’s boardroom remains unclear. Until the parties involved comment publicly or additional evidence emerges, the thread should be treated as an account circulating on social media rather than as established fact.
