Eva Ngigi-Sarwari: Equity Bank Executive Who Died in China, Career and Biography

Last updated: 26 October 2026

Eva Ngigi-Sarwari, a prominent Kenyan banking and financial technology executive who served as Equity Group’s Director of Payments and International Banking, has died at the age of 45 while on a business trip to China.

Her death was reported on 20 October 2026 and confirmed by colleagues. At the time of publication of the reports reviewed, the cause of death had not been publicly disclosed.

Ngigi-Sarwari was also the managing director of Finserve Africa, Equity Group’s digital financial services subsidiary. She joined Equity Group in January 2025 and took on the Finserve Africa leadership role in April 2026.

Her death has drawn attention to a career spanning more than two decades in banking, transaction services, international payments and financial technology across East Africa.

Who Was Eva Ngigi-Sarwari?

Eva Ngigi-Sarwari was a Kenyan financial services executive known for her work in digital payments, transaction banking and the development of financial technology solutions.

Before joining Equity Group, she served as Visa’s senior director and country manager for Kenya, South Sudan and Somalia. In that position, she worked on business growth, payment services and partnerships intended to expand digital transactions across the region.

Her experience across traditional banking and international payment networks positioned her to lead Equity Group’s payments and international banking business.

She was widely recognised within the financial services sector for her professional experience, leadership and contribution to the development of digital financial services in Africa.

Eva Ngigi-Sarwari’s Role at Equity Bank

Ngigi-Sarwari joined Equity Group in January 2025 as Group Director of Payments and International Banking.

Her responsibilities included overseeing the group’s payments business and international banking services, including solutions for corporate clients, institutions and organisations that require reliable payment and cash management services.

In April 2026, she became managing director of Finserve Africa, Equity Group’s digital financial services subsidiary. The appointment expanded her leadership responsibilities within the group’s financial technology operations.

Finserve operates within Equity Group’s digital financial services business, an area focused on technology-enabled financial products and payment solutions.

Her combined experience in banking, international payments and digital finance was relevant to Equity Group’s efforts to expand financial services across African markets.

What Happened to Eva Ngigi-Sarwari in China?

Eva Ngigi-Sarwari died while on a business trip to China, according to reports published by Kenyan media outlets on 20 and 21 October 2026.

Colleagues confirmed her death on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, describing the news as sudden and expressing condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.

As of 26 October 2026, the reports reviewed had not disclosed the cause of death. Claims about the circumstances or medical cause of her death should therefore not be treated as confirmed without an authoritative announcement.

Funeral and memorial arrangements should be confirmed through statements from her family or official announcements.

Eva Ngigi-Sarwari’s Career Before Equity Group

Before joining Equity Group, Ngigi-Sarwari built her career across several major financial institutions in Kenya and the wider region.

1. Co-operative Bank of Kenya

Ngigi-Sarwari began her banking career at Co-operative Bank in 2005. Her early work involved customer relationships and electronic banking, providing experience in customer service and banking operations.

2. Stanbic Bank

She later joined Stanbic Bank Kenya, where she worked in transaction products and services. This experience helped develop her understanding of banking products and services used by businesses and other institutional customers.

3. Standard Chartered Bank

In 2012, Ngigi-Sarwari joined Standard Chartered Kenya. During her time at the bank, she progressed through transaction banking roles and became head of transaction banking for the commercial banking division.

Her responsibilities involved transaction banking services and solutions supporting commercial clients in Kenya and the wider East African market.

4. SC Ventures

In 2020, she joined SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s venture-building and innovation arm. The role exposed her to new business models, financial technology and the development of innovative financial services.

5. Visa

In September 2020, Ngigi-Sarwari joined Visa as senior director and country manager for Kenya, South Sudan and Somalia.

She held the position until December 2024, overseeing the company’s operations across the three markets. Her work included expanding payment services and developing partnerships that supported digital transactions.

She joined Equity Group in January 2025, bringing experience from banking, venture building and the international payments industry.

Eva Ngigi-Sarwari’s Education

Ngigi-Sarwari combined professional experience with academic and executive training in business management, strategic leadership and financial technology.

• Moi University: Bachelor of Business Management, specialising in Marketing Management, completed in 2004.
• University of Nairobi: Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management, completed in 2010.
• Oxford Fintech Programme: Completed at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, in 2019.
• Digital business: Completed a postgraduate diploma in Digital Business through Emeritus in 2020.
• Oxford Strategic Management Executive Programme: Further executive education at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

Her education complemented a career in an industry increasingly shaped by digital technology, cross-border transactions and financial innovation.

Eva Ngigi-Sarwari’s Contribution to Digital Payments in Kenya

Ngigi-Sarwari’s career reflected the transformation of Kenya’s financial services industry from traditional banking operations towards increasingly digital payment systems.

Her early experience in customer relationships and electronic banking developed into senior roles in transaction banking, international payment networks and digital financial services.

At Visa, she worked in a business focused on enabling electronic payments and partnerships with financial institutions and merchants. Her work included efforts to expand payment options and improve the accessibility of digital transactions.

At Equity Group, she took on responsibilities involving payments and international banking, areas that support businesses moving money locally and across borders.

Her career brought together several important parts of the financial services industry: traditional banking, corporate transactions, digital innovation and international payment infrastructure.

Tributes Following Eva Ngigi-Sarwari’s Death

Reports published following her death described the loss as a significant one for Kenya’s financial services and technology sectors.

Robert Ochieng, chief executive and co-founder of Abojani Investment, praised her contributions at the intersection of financial services and technology, describing her as an inspiration to professionals working in innovation and financial education.

Her professional journey also attracted attention because she advanced through several major financial institutions before taking on senior leadership responsibilities at Equity Group.

At the age of 45, her death ended a career that had spanned more than two decades. Her work in banking and digital payments remains an important part of her professional legacy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Eva Ngigi-Sarwari

1. Who was Eva Ngigi-Sarwari?

Eva Ngigi-Sarwari was a Kenyan banking and financial technology executive who served as Equity Group’s Director of Payments and International Banking and managing director of Finserve Africa.

2. How old was Eva Ngigi-Sarwari when she died?

She was 45 years old when she died in October 2026.

3. What happened to Eva Ngigi-Sarwari?

She died while on a business trip to China. The cause of death had not been publicly disclosed in the reports reviewed as of 26 October 2026.

4. What was Eva Ngigi-Sarwari’s position at Equity Bank?

She was Equity Group’s Director of Payments and International Banking. She also became managing director of Finserve Africa in April 2026.

5. Was Eva Ngigi-Sarwari previously employed by Visa?

Yes. She served as Visa’s senior director and country manager for Kenya, South Sudan and Somalia from September 2020 to December 2024.

6. Which banks did Eva Ngigi-Sarwari work for?

Her career included Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Stanbic Bank Kenya, Standard Chartered Kenya, SC Ventures, Visa and Equity Group.

7. Where did Eva Ngigi-Sarwari study?

She earned a Bachelor of Business Management from Moi University and an MBA in Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi. She also completed executive training in financial technology and strategic management at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

8. Has the cause of Eva Ngigi-Sarwari’s death been announced?

The news reports reviewed as of 26 October 2026 had not disclosed the cause of her death. Readers should rely on verified announcements from her family or relevant authorities for further information.

Conclusion

Eva Ngigi-Sarwari was a prominent Kenyan financial services executive whose career spanned banking, transaction services, digital payments and financial technology.

From her early career at Co-operative Bank to leadership positions at Standard Chartered, Visa and Equity Group, she gained experience across several areas of the financial services industry.

Her appointment as managing director of Finserve Africa in April 2026 marked another stage in her leadership career. Her death in China at the age of 45 has been reported as a significant loss for colleagues and professionals in Kenya’s financial technology sector.

Her professional legacy is associated with the growth of digital payments, innovation and financial services across East Africa.