Rachael Gitonga

Background

About Rachael Gitonga

Rachael is an experienced Finance strategy professional in the Financial Services and Development fields. She is a recipient of the Kenya Top 40 under 40 Women awarded in 2017. Currently, the Chief Finance Officer (C.F.O) at ZEP Re (PTA Reinsurance Company). Previously, at East Africa Reinsurance (EARe) Ltd in a similar role of the C.F.O and over 10 years Consultant career in PwC South Africa and PwC Kenya. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration(DBA) at United States International University (USIU) Africa. Rachael is an avid marathoner having in August 2022 participated in the ultimate human race 90kms Comrades marathon, a worldwide inspiration footrace between two cities, Pietermaritzburg and Durban. She has participated in various marathons in the world Nairobi marathon, Chicago marathon, Berlin marathon and the Kilimanjaro marathon. Her running passions got her founding “Miles4shillings” a charity initiative which in 2019 to 2021 raised over towards support for Faraja Cancer Support Fund. Her motivational writings through her blog “Raych running diaries” encompass everyday resilience lessons drawn from running on achieving in life. Prior to her role at EARe, she was a Senior Manager in PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Kenya –Assurance. Rachael had been with PwC for over 12 years working at both the PwC Kenya and South Africa offices gaining extensive experience in financial reporting, risk management and performance management. She provided audit services to large Insurance and Investment Management companies listed in both the Nairobi Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange. She was involved in various due diligence and transaction assignments relating to the floatation of securities in the Nairobi Securities Exchange. While at PwC served as a member of the Assurance Kenya IFRS Technical Committee. The committee provides guidance to audit teams on the application of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and carries out annual review of financial statements. She authored the article “REIT’s right now in Kenya” in the Financial Focus – A PwC publication in the wake of the new real estate investment opportunity. In December 2012, she received the Manager of the Year Award in the Financial Services Insurance and Investment Management (FSIIM) division at PwC South Africa for excellent performance. She also served in two committees; the PwC South Africa Social Responsibility Forum (Ümbono”) and the PwC Gender Advisory Council, in both cases representing her division.