CPA Samwel Gitau Mbugua is the General Manager, Corporate Services, at the Water Sector Trust Fund (WaterFund).

Mr. Gitau has over 20 years of working experience in Finance and Accounting, Strategic Planning, Management of Grants, Contract Management, Procurement, Administration and Logistics. This experience was gained while working at senior management level in both Public and Private Sectors, key among them being Government of Kenya, Development Partners (DPs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in service and manufacturing industry.

Prior to joining WaterFund, Mr. Gitau served in the capacity of Deputy Finance Manager at Lutheran World Federation / Department for World Service (LWF/DWS). At LWF/DWS, he was responsible for financial management of various projects under Kenya/Sudan Programme in implementation, projects financial monitoring, budgeting, development and review of financial policies, staff mentorship and coaching.

Mr. Gitau has a wealth of experience in corporate service management, setting up and managing sound financial and administration in highly computerised environments, managing contracts, grants, partnerships, staff management, capacity building on financial management matters and risk management for various development programmes. These programmes were financed by European Union, German Development Bank (KfW), DCA, EED, DANIDA, UNHCR, ELCA, UN-WFP, USAID, UNICEF, UN-Habitat, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), GIZ, World Bank, Government of Finland, Government of Sweden, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, IFAD and Government of Kenya.

Mr. Gitau provides leadership in a multi-stakeholder setup, building relationships through negotiations and timely reporting to Government Agencies, Development Partners and other key stakeholders. In addition, as WaterFund’s General Manager, Corporate Services, he provides advisory to management and Board of Trustees in areas of prudence in financial management and fiduciary risk management for both the institution and projects.

Mr. Gitau has training in Activity Based-Budgeting in the Public Sector Programme, Project Management, USAID Rules and Regulations, Accounting for NGO’s, Corporate Governance, Information Security, Leadership & Management in Development, among others.

Mr. Gitau is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). He pursed his CPAs at Strathmore University. He holds a Master of Business Administration (Finance) and Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Nairobi.