Eva Ngigi Sarwari, Equity’s head of payments, dies on business trip to China

Eva Ngigi Sarwari, managing director of Finserve Africa and Equity Group’s director of payments and international banking, has died aged 45 while on a business trip to China, according to a statement from her colleagues.

Her death cuts short a career that spanned over two decades in banking and payments, from introducing customers to electronic banking at Co-operative Bank of Kenya to leading Visa’s business across three East African markets.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Eva Ngigi Sarwari,” her colleagues said in the statement on Tuesday.

They described the news as a “sudden and profound shock” and said they would make further updates as details became available. The statement did not disclose the cause or date of her death.

Sarwari joined Equity in January 2025 as group director for payments and international banking, with responsibility for executing the bank’s payments strategy across Africa. In April 2026, she became managing director of Finserve Africa, the group’s payments and digital financial services subsidiary, overseeing its strategy, commercial direction and operations.

The roles brought her back into a banking group after more than four years at Visa, where she served as senior director and country manager from September 2020 to December 2024. Her role covered three neighbouring markets, including Kenya, South Sudan and Somalia.

The appointments brought together experience accumulated across local banks, an international banking group and one of the world’s largest card networks.

Before Equity, Sarwari spent more than four years at Visa as senior director and country manager for Kenya, South Sudan and Somalia. From September 2020 to December 2024, she was responsible for developing and implementing the company’s growth strategy in those markets.

She joined Visa from SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s venture-building arm, where she served as a venture lead during 2020. That role followed more than seven years in Standard Chartered’s transaction banking business.

As head of transaction banking for commercial banking from July 2017 to January 2020, she helped shape the bank’s strategy for Kenya and East Africa, with responsibility for revenue growth, product relevance and digital transformation. Previously, as a principal in transaction banking, she worked with development organisations and public-sector clients across East Africa.

Sarwari moved to Standard Chartered in November 2012 after just over two years at Stanbic Bank Kenya, where she managed sales of transactional products and services.

She began her banking career at Co-operative Bank of Kenya in June 2005. As a relationship manager, she helped bring customers onto electronic banking systems, demonstrating products, overseeing installations and training users. It was practical work that would run through her subsequent career.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Eva’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time,” the statement added.

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