Githinji has over 13 years of microfinance and financial management experience gained in leadership positions in four microfinance institutions in Kenya.
Githinji worked briefly in the public service as a Financial Accountant with the Armed Forces Canteen Organization over a two year period. He began his microfinance career with K-Rep Development agency (KDA); the research and development subsidiary of the K-Rep Group of companies, where he worked for over three years, initially as a Financial Analyst and later as a Regional Manager, Coast Region. He was part of the management team responsible for the roll out of the successful Financial Service Associations (FSAs) commonly referred to as ‘village banks’ -a rural finance breakthrough in Kenya.
Githinji later joined SISDO Microfinance, a Kenya NGO where he served as a General Manager over a 5 year period. He was responsible for the successful transformation of SISDO from smallholder irrigation schemes development Organization to a profitable and sustainable microfinance company. Githinji later joined the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM) as the Country Manager of its microfinance subsidiary in Kenya- First Microfinance Agency Kenya (FMFA Kenya) where he worked for two years.
Githinji's last appointment before joining Water.org was General Manager, Uwezo DTM Ltd. where he spearheaded the successfully licensing of the MFI as the 1st Community Deposit Taking Microfinance (DTM) Company by the Central Bank of Kenya under the Microfinance Act 2006.
Githinji has good working knowledge of various lending methodologies such as village banking, solidarity group lending, individual lending methodologies including SME lending. He is well versed in market research techniques, risk management frameworks, product development, operating and MIS systems. He has attended numerous workshops and seminars in Microfinance and Development related fields including the Boulder School of Microfinance and served as a Board Member on the Association of Microfinance Institution in Kenya (AMFI Kenya) for two years; he is also a founding member of the Association of Microfinance professionals in Kenya (AMFPK).
Commitment to Water.org
"I am a strong believer in the use of microfinance tools to address the water and sanitation needs of the low income populations. Affordable microcredit by the low income empowers them to take control of their economic lives and improve their livelihoods.
Having worked with various microfinance techniques, I am committed to ensuring that we build sustainable water credit programs and portfolios with our development partners as a contribution to ensuring access to a safe drink of water for all."
Education and Professional Affiliations
MBA (Finance Major), University of Nairobi
B Com (Accounting option) Honors, Kenyatta University
Certified Public Accountant, Kenya (CPAK)
Association of Microfinance Professionals in Kenya
