KCB Group, East Africa’s largest financial institution by assets, unveiled a temporary rebranding of its corporate logo from a lion to a lioness on March 8, 2019, to coincide with International Women’s Day. The initiative, titled "Hear Her Roar," aims to emphasize the bank’s commitment to gender parity and inclusion in the financial sector.
"We are taking a bold and sincere step using our brand asset to reiterate our promise for the advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of women," stated KCB CEO Joshua Oigara. The campaign, active across Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, highlights the bank’s 2018 achievement of a 50:50 gender ratio in its workforce, surpassing its 2020 target.
Despite this progress, the bank’s top governance structure remains predominantly male. As of 2019, only one woman, Georgina Malombe, appeared on KCB’s board, with 10 of 11 members identified as male. Recent developments included the appointment of Josephine Tata Djirackor as a Non-Executive Director, offset by the resignation of Dr. Nancy Onyango.
"Just like the Lion, she’s fierce, she adapts & she’s reliable. In honor of all Women as we Celebrate International Women’s Day, It’s time to #HearHerRoar." — KCB Group (@KCBGroup), March 8, 2019
The rebranded logo follows years of advocacy for gender inclusion, with the bank citing its 2018 workforce milestone as a key milestone in its broader diversity strategy.
