Eva Ngigi Sarwari, Finserve Africa MD, Dies at 45 During Business Trip to China
Managing director of Finserve Africa and Equity Group’s director of payments and international banking, Eva Ngigi Sarwari, has died at the age of 45 while on a business trip to China.
Her death was announced by her colleagues on Tuesday, who described the news as a sudden and profound shock. They did not disclose when she died or the cause of her death.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Eva Ngigi Sarwari,” they said in a statement, adding that further updates would be shared as more information became available.
Sarwari joined Equity Group in January 2025 as group director of payments and international banking, where she was responsible for driving the bank’s payments strategy across Africa.
In April 2026, she was appointed managing director of Finserve Africa, Equity Group’s digital financial services subsidiary. In that role, she oversaw the company’s strategy, commercial direction and operations.
Her appointment followed more than four years at Visa, where she served as senior director and country manager for Kenya, South Sudan and Somalia between September 2020 and December 2024. She was responsible for developing and executing the company’s growth strategy across the three markets.
Before joining Visa, Sarwari worked at SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s venture-building arm, as a venture lead in 2020. She had previously spent more than seven years at Standard Chartered, building experience in transaction banking and digital financial services.
From July 2017 to January 2020, she served as head of transaction banking for commercial banking, helping shape the bank’s strategy in Kenya and East Africa. Her responsibilities included growing revenue, improving product offerings and supporting digital transformation.
Earlier in her time at Standard Chartered, she worked with development organisations and public-sector clients across East Africa as a principal in transaction banking.
Sarwari joined the bank in November 2012 after spending just over two years at Stanbic Bank Kenya, where she managed the sales of transactional banking products and services.
She began her career at Co-operative Bank of Kenya in June 2005 as a relationship manager. Her work included helping customers adopt electronic banking services, demonstrating products, overseeing installations and training users.
Over the years, she built a career spanning more than two decades across Kenyan banking, international financial services and digital payments, taking on leadership roles at major financial institutions.
Her move to Equity Group brought that experience into the bank’s expanding payments business, with a mandate to support its digital financial services and international banking operations.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Eva’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time,” her colleagues said.