The Board of the East African Business Council (EABC)has appointed Ahmed Farah as the new Executive Director of the regional body. The appointment was announced on Tuesday, February 10, by the EAC chairperson John Lual Akol Akol. ALSO READ: EABC pushes for raising cap on duty-free goods The Kenyan trade and investment policy expert with over two decades of leadership experience across East Africa and other African markets. Farah takes over from Adrian Raphael Njau of Tanzania who was appointed as the acting Executive Director, after John Bosco Kalisa of Rwanda stepped down in 2024. ALSO READ: Inside Rwandan JB Kalisa's tenure at helm of East African business body Prior to joining EABC, Frah served as Country Director for Kenya at TradeMark Africa, where he led programmes focused on trade facilitation, corridor performance, customs modernisation, and private-sector competitiveness. He has also previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and held senior advisory and leadership roles at Deloitte East Africa and PwC. His appointment comes at a critical time as EABC has intensified advocacy to address non-tariff barriers, high trade and logistics costs, and uneven implementation of regional commitments. As Executive Director, Farah will lead the EABC Secretariat in implementing the EABC Strategic Plan, strengthening engagement with EABC members and National Focal Points, and deepening collaboration with the East African Community Secretariat, Organs, and Institutions. He will also spearhead resource mobilisation and high-level advocacy at Ministerial and Heads of State levels to advance EABC’s vision of a borderless East Africa that drives business growth, investment, and jobs. The East African Business Council is the regional apex body of private sector associations and corporates from the eight East African Community member states. It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the integration process of the East African Community.
