From marketing maven to fintech thought leader, Kakea is bridging continents and transforming how the diaspora connects back home.
When people think of remittances, they often imagine numbers on a screen or money moving silently across borders, but for Kakea Mbacha, Country Manager for LemFi East Africa, remittances are far more than transactions; they are lifelines, connections and tools for empowerment.
Her leadership is helping redefine how East Africans across the UK, USA, EU and Canada send money home with greater purpose.
From Marketing to Fintech Innovation
Before entering the fintech space, Kakea built a strong foundation in traditional marketing, digital marketing and influencer marketing.
She led campaigns that built brands, engaged communities and connected products to people authentically, a skillset that now powers her approach to remittance innovation.
“Marketing taught me to listen to understand what people truly need,” she says. “Fintech should do the same: it should listen, simplify and solve problems.”
Her ability to merge storytelling with strategy helps make financial products more human, relatable and impactful.
A Spark with Purpose
Kakea’s move into remittances was driven by a desire for challenge and meaningful societal impact.
After 1 month of witnessing the struggles of East African families trying to send money home efficiently and safely, she realized that remittances could be more than money transfers; they could be instruments of growth and stability for children, families and local communities.
“I wanted to work in a space where every decision could make someone’s life a little easier.”
Innovating with Real Impact
At LemFi, Kakea has led initiatives that make sending money home simpler, faster and more transparent.
One story stands out — a businesswoman based in Dallas, Texas, USA, building her dream home, realized she’d been losing money through intermediaries like foremans and relatives. After switching to LemFi, she began paying suppliers directly using the merchant Paybill and Till feature on the App and saved nearly half of what she used to lose.
For Kakea, stories like this prove that fintech can create everyday impact when built with empathy and efficiency.
Scaling Across Borders
Under her leadership, LemFi has scaled operations across multiple regions from the UK, USA, EU, and Canada to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.
Her focus: to ensure that diaspora communities have access to reliable, affordable and transparent financial solutions.
“Remittances should not only move money – they should build trust, fuel growth and strengthen the bond between the diaspora and home.”
Championing Inclusion and Thought Leadership
Beyond operations, Kakea is a recognized thought leader in East African fintech. She shares insights on diaspora growth, digital inclusion and remittance innovation.
inspiring other professionals, especially women, to pursue leadership roles in technology and finance.
“Representation matters,” she says. “When young women see someone like them in fintech, they start to believe they can lead too.”
Looking Ahead
Kakea envisions an East Africa where remittances are seamless, empowering and accessible to all.
She continues to advocate for transparency, innovation, and inclusion, building a future where every transfer tells a story of growth, opportunity and connection.
“I want remittances to be more than money transfers,” she says. “They should be bridges for growth, opportunity and empowerment.”
A Game Changer in Every Sense
From building brands to transforming financial ecosystems, Kakea Mbacha is proving that fintech leadership can be both strategic and human.
In an industry often defined by numbers and systems, she brings the heart back into finance, one transaction, one family and one community at a time.
Related Content: Central Bank of Kenya Approves LemFi Remittance To Kenya, In partnership with Choice Microfinance Bank
