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Brenda Mbathi

BA, International Relations and Geography

Senior Advisor – Africa and Global Strategic Growth

Brenda Mbathi is an accomplished African business leader with more than 25 years of executive experience across international business, investment promotion, infrastructure, healthcare, energy, financial services, public policy and economic development. She has a strong track record of helping multinational companies, investors and governments navigate complex markets and build partnerships that deliver both commercial value and sustainable impact.

Brenda currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Two Rivers International Finance & Innovation Centre (TRIFIC SEZ), Kenya’s first privately owned business-services Special Economic Zone. She is leading the development of an international investment, financial services and global business services ecosystem designed to position Kenya as a gateway for companies and capital seeking opportunities across Africa. In this role, she works closely with multinational corporations, institutional investors, governments, development finance institutions and professional-services firms.

Before joining TRIFIC, Brenda spent more than a decade with General Electric, culminating in her appointment as President and CEO of GE East Africa. She also chaired Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for GE’s International Markets. During her tenure, she led regional businesses and strategic engagements across healthcare, energy and infrastructure, while working with governments and institutional partners on investment, industrial development, localisation and Public-Private partnerships.

Earlier in her career, Brenda held senior leadership roles at Diageo/East African Breweries Limited, with responsibility for corporate relations, government affairs, public policy, commercial strategy and market development across East Africa. Through these roles, she developed trusted relationships with governments, regulators and business leaders and contributed to policy and market reforms supporting private-sector growth.

Brenda brings extensive board and governance experience across the private, public-interest and not-for-profit sectors. She currently serves as Vice Chairperson of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, a Board Director of SBM Bank Kenya and Chairperson of Gradian Health Systems. She is a former President of the American Chamber of Commerce Kenya and previously served on the U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa and the U.S.-Africa Business Center board.

Throughout her career, Brenda has advised CEOs, boards, investors and governments on market entry, investment strategy, stakeholder engagement, public policy, corporate governance and sustainable growth. Her extensive relationships across African governments, financial institutions, development finance organisations, investors and multinational companies enable her to connect clients with decision-makers, identify credible opportunities and accelerate strategic partnerships.

As Senior Advisor to Bluesphere, Brenda supports companies seeking to invest, establish operations or expand across Africa. She provides practical, market-informed guidance on regional entry strategies, opportunity assessment, regulatory and policy environments, stakeholder engagement, partnership development and Public-Private collaboration. Her experience helps clients translate their ambitions for Africa into well-informed, commercially viable and locally grounded growth strategies.

Areas of Expertise

  • Africa market entry and expansion
  • International investment and capital mobilisation
  • Strategic planning and execution
  • Investment promotion and economic development
  • Government relations and public policy
  • Financial services and international finance centres
  • Healthcare, energy and infrastructure
  • Public-Private partnerships
  • Regulatory and stakeholder engagement
  • Cross-cultural leadership and negotiation
  • Corporate governance
  • Strategic partnership development

Selected Leadership Experience

  • Chief Executive Officer – Two Rivers International Finance & Innovation Centre (TRIFIC SEZ)
  • President and CEO – General Electric East Africa
  • Vice Chairperson – Kenya Private Sector Alliance
  • Board Director – SBM Bank Kenya
  • Chairperson – Gradian Health Systems
  • President – American Chamber of Commerce Kenya
  • Member – U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa
  • Board Member – U.S.-Africa Business Center