THE ANNUAL CONVENTION FOR CEOs, ACCOUNTING OFFICERS AND CECs

INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS OF KENYA
(Established under the Accountants Act, Laws of Kenya)

THE ANNUAL CONVENTION FOR CEOs, ACCOUNTING OFFICERS & CECs
Theme: Future-Ready Leadership: Driving Value, Resilience & Strategic Impact
Date: 20th – 24th April 2026
Time: 09.00am-03.30pm
Venue: Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa, Mombasa

INTRODUCTION

Leadership, governance, and public sector accountability continue to serve as foundational pillars for national development, public confidence, and institutional effectiveness across the world. In recent years, Kenya—like many countries across Africa and beyond—has experienced significant shifts in its governance, fiscal management, and public service delivery landscape. These developments have been influenced by technological advancements, evolving regulatory frameworks, heightened public scrutiny, and a global push toward ethical leadership, transparency, and sustainable development. Increasingly, leaders are required to operate in environments defined by complexity, uncertainty, and accelerated change.

In Kenya, rising fiscal pressures, growing public expectations, and intensified demands for accountability have compelled public institutions to rethink how they manage resources, deliver services, and uphold ethical standards. County Governments, State Corporations, and national agencies face competing priorities: addressing revenue constraints, strengthening internal controls, improving procurement management, leveraging technology, and aligning institutional mandates with national development agendas such as Vision 2030, MTP IV, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At the same time, the digital transformation of government processes—ranging from e-citizen services to automated financial management systems—has reshaped how leaders plan, execute, monitor, and account for public resources. These shifts demand leaders who possess not only technical and strategic competency, but also agility, ethical grounding, and the ability to lead high-performance institutions in dynamic environments.

Regional integration within the East African Community, global economic realignments, and shifting geopolitical dynamics have further underscored the need for resilient, future-ready leadership. As public and private sector organizations expand their mandates, adopt new technologies, and navigate increasing risk exposure, executives must be well-equipped to evaluate emerging threats, leverage innovation, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and build systems that promote stability and long-term sustainability. Issues such as public debt sustainability, environmental and social governance (ESG), climate-related risks, service delivery challenges, and growing citizen demands have made leadership more complex than ever before.

Amidst these pressures, the need for strong ethical leadership, strategic decision-making, and governance excellence has grown significantly. Executives must be capable of cultivating integrity-driven institutional cultures, managing reputational risk, enhancing communication with stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with the law while upholding public trust. The expectations placed on CEOs, Accounting Officers, and CECs have deepened, requiring a blend of strategic foresight, operational discipline, ethical awareness, and collaborative leadership.

Against this backdrop, the Annual Convention for CEOs, Accounting Officers & CECs provides a timely, high-impact, and forward-looking platform for capacity building, policy dialogue, and practical learning. The five-day convention brings together senior leaders, policymakers, governance experts, and technical specialists to explore best practices, emerging issues, and innovative approaches shaping leadership in Kenya’s public and private sectors. Through knowledge-sharing, panel discussions, case studies, and interactive sessions, the convention equips participants with the frameworks, insights, and tools necessary to enhance institutional performance, strengthen governance structures, manage risks, and deliver sustainable public value.

ANNUAL CONVENTION OBJECTIVES

Participants will be able to benefit from the following upon successful completion:

1. Strengthen understanding of enterprise risk management foundations: Deepen knowledge of core risk management principles, frameworks, and best practices relevant to accountants, auditors, and risk champions.
2. Enhance capacity in risk identification and analysis: Build skills in recognizing, documenting, and analyzing risks using structured methodologies, stakeholder engagement techniques, and evidence-based approaches.

iii. Develop competence in risk classification and evaluation: Understand how to categorize risks—strategic, operational, financial, and compliance—and assess their significance, likelihood, and potential impact on organizational performance.

1. Improve proficiency in risk assessment and prioritization: Apply practical tools and assessment matrices to evaluate risk severity, determine priorities, and support informed decision-making.
2. Strengthen ability to plan and implement risk mitigation strategies: Learn to design practical, actionable, and cost-effective mitigation plans aligned with organizational objectives and governance expectations.
3. Advance skills in building and reviewing risk registers: Master the preparation, structuring, and continuous review of risk registers as dynamic tools for monitoring risk exposures and supporting strategic oversight.

vii. Enhance knowledge of technology-enabled risk management: Explore how GRC platforms, cloud-based solutions, and automated tools enhance risk tracking, reporting, visualization, and documentation.

viii. Promote ethical and professional conduct in risk governance: Reinforce integrity, independence, and accountability as central pillars of effective risk management and audit practice.

1. Strengthen application of scenario analysis: Gain practical experience in modeling interconnected risks, stress-testing assumptions, and evaluating the resilience of mitigation measures.
2. Foster practical capability through casework and exercises: Engage in hands-on sessions, group assignments, and real-world case studies to translate risk-based audit planning concepts into actionable skills.
3. Support continuous professional development: Enhance technical competence and practical readiness of accountants and auditors in line with ICPAK’s professional standards, regulatory expectations, and CPD requirements.

ANNUAL CONVENTION TOPICS

The  Annual Convention for CEOs, Accounting Officers & CECs will delve into the following topical areas among others:

Theme 1: Strategic Leadership and Governance Excellence

1. Leadership Competencies for Modern CEOs and Accounting Officers
2. Board Dynamics, Roles, Responsibilities & Effective Oversight
3. Strengthening Collaboration with Senior Management & Stakeholders

Theme 2: Risk, Resilience & Decision-Making

1. Enterprise Risk Management for Executives
2. Risk-Informed Decision-Making and Scenario Planning
3. Crisis Management, Continuity Planning & Organizational Resilience

Theme 3: Financial Stewardship & Accountability

1. Oversight of Public and Private Resources
2. Ethical Financial Management, Compliance & Audit Readiness
3. Reporting, Transparency & Accountability for Decision-Making
4. Feedback from OAG & COB

Theme 4: Change, Digital Transformation & Stakeholder Engagement

10. Leading Institutional Change and Transformation
11. Leveraging Technology, Data & Digital Systems for Performance
12. Communication, Public Engagement & Strengthening Public Confidence

Theme 5: Sustainability, ESG & Public Value

13. Integrating ESG Principles into Strategy and Operations
14. Aligning Institutional Goals with SDGs & National Development Priorities
15. County Government Sustainability, OSR Enhancement & Service Delivery

 TARGET AUDIENCE

The Convention will be beneficial to CEOs, Managing Directors, General Managers, Deputy CEOs, CECs from County Governments, Academia and other interested professionals.

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT:

1. Charges will cater for daytime meals, conference giveaways, learning materials, and certificates of attendance.
2. Delegates are advised to make own travel and accommodation arrangements.

CPD UNITS

Members of ICPAK and other reciprocating professional bodies will earn 20 CPD points upon successfully attending the Convention.

ONLINE BOOKING:

We call on all participants to note that booking is available only online at www.icpak.com/events and will close two hours before the training session.  Delegates are reminded to note that online booking for training sessions is MANDATORY and is available online at www.icpak.com/events.

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AUTHORITY (NITA) REIMBURSEMENT:

The Institute is registered as a trainer with National Industrial Training Authority. The Institute’s registration number is DIT/TRN/47. Participants who are registered levy contributors should apply to NITA for reimbursement of their fees. Please note that this is applicable for Kenyan citizens only and subject to NITA regulations. Remember that to qualify you should apply to NITA for approval prior to the date of the conference. Further details can be obtained from their website (www.nita.go.ke)

Further requests can be channeled to us via telephone calls on +254 719 074 000,  or via email to marketing@icpak.com