Airtel Kenya appoints Djibril Tobe as new Managing Director

Airtel Kenya has appointed Djibril Tobe as its new Managing Director, effective July 1, 2026, marking a new leadership chapter for the telecommunications and digital financial services provider as it accelerates growth in Kenya’s highly competitive telecom market.

Tobe succeeds Ashish Malhotra, who has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Indus Towers Africa after leading Airtel Kenya since 2022.

The leadership transition comes as Airtel Kenya continues to expand its mobile network, enhance digital services, and deepen financial inclusion through its mobile money and connectivity solutions.

Tobe brings more than two decades of leadership experience spanning the telecommunications, consulting, and consumer goods sectors across Africa. Throughout his career, he has led commercial operations, business transformation initiatives, and market expansion strategies in multiple countries.

Prior to his appointment in Kenya, he served as Managing Director of Airtel Congo B. He previously held the positions of Managing Director of Airtel Chad and Commercial Director of Airtel Burkina Faso, where he played key roles in driving subscriber growth, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening market performance.

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Earlier in his career, Tobe held senior leadership positions at Expresso Guinea, Ernst & Young, and Coca-Cola, gaining extensive expertise in strategic management, commercial development, and operational excellence.

Tobe takes over from Ashish Malhotra, who has overseen Airtel Kenya’s operations for the past four years. During his tenure, the company expanded network coverage, invested in digital connectivity, enhanced customer experience, and reinforced its position as one of Kenya’s leading telecommunications providers.

Malhotra now assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer at Indus Towers Africa, bringing his experience in the African telecom sector to the tower infrastructure business.

Tobe’s appointment comes at a time when Kenya’s telecommunications industry continues to experience rising demand for high-speed mobile connectivity, digital financial services, enterprise solutions, and affordable internet access.

His extensive experience leading Airtel operations across several African markets is expected to strengthen Airtel Kenya’s focus on operational excellence, innovation, customer-centric services, and sustainable business growth.

As competition intensifies among telecom operators in Kenya, Airtel Kenya is expected to leverage Tobe’s pan-African leadership experience to accelerate network expansion, improve service delivery, and support the country’s growing digital economy.