Equity Bank has been named Bank of the Year at the 2025 AfriSAFE Awards, a recognition organisers say reflects the lender’s strong workplace safety culture and environmental practices across its regional network.
The award was presented in Mombasa during the Africa Safety Congress held from November 13 to 14, an annual gathering that brings together experts, regulators and corporate leaders to review progress in health, safety, security, environment and sustainability standards.
A group of seven judges drawn from five global regions assessed entries from institutions across the continent. Among them was US-based human rights lawyer and scholar Prof. Gloria J. Browne-Marshall.
The panel praised Equity for meeting Occupational Safety and Health rules, supporting staff welfare and maintaining clear systems for tracking safety compliance in its operations.
Equity Group CEO Dr. James Mwangi welcomed the recognition and said it reflects the bank’s continued work to strengthen safety, environmental responsibility and overall well-being within its workplaces.
“Safety, sustainability, and the well-being of our people form the foundation of our business,” Dr. Mwangi said. “This recognition reflects the deliberate investments we continue to make to ensure our operations remain safe, compliant, and environmentally responsible.”
According to AfriSAFE organisers, Equity’s safety and sustainability framework was one of the strongest among financial institutions and showed steady performance in Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan. They pointed to the bank’s Health, Safety and Environment Management System, describing it as a structured way of handling risk and protecting employees.
The awards have become a major continental platform for measuring workplace standards and have drawn rising interest from sectors outside manufacturing and heavy industry.
Organisers say this shift shows that more service organisations, including banks, are giving close attention to health, safety and environmental practices.
Equity Bank, one of Kenya’s biggest lenders by customer numbers, has continued to grow its regional footprint at a time when regulators expect better reporting on workplace conditions, environmental impact and sustainability progress.
The 2025 AfriSAFE Awards also honoured organisations in mining, construction, transport and public administration. This year’s focus, organisers said, was to highlight institutions that weave safety and sustainability into daily operations rather than treating them as simple compliance tasks.
