Profile

Richard Wairegi

Senior Manager
African Export Import Bank

Richard Wairegi is a seasoned development finance professional with nearly two decades of experience shaping strategic investments across Africa and the Caribbean. He has played a leading role in mobilizing more than USD 3 billion in capital across hospitality, healthcare, infrastructure, agribusiness, and manufacturing deploying a range of instruments including debt, mezzanine, and equity financing. In the hospitality sector, Richard has overseen the structuring of financing that enabled the development of 1,200+ hotel keys across multiple African regions and has engaged at board level as an observer for major hotel assets in Eastern Africa. His work aligns strongly with the FHS mission of accelerating investment, expanding hotel pipelines, fostering operator–investor partnerships, and advancing sustainable tourism ecosystems. Currently with Afreximbank, Richard supports export development and industrialisation, with a special focus on hospitality and healthcare financing, industrial parks, export services, and light manufacturing. His multi DFI background—including roles at Afreximbank, TDB, and KfW DEG—provides a panoramic understanding of Africa’s financing landscape and the levers required to unlock investment at scale. His leadership has contributed to multiple award winning projects across renewable energy, power, healthcare, and Islamic financing. Richard holds a Master’s in Development Finance (Frankfurt School of Finance), Executive Leadership certification (Oxford University), CPA accreditation, investment analysis certifications, and specialist training in climate and renewable energy finance.