When Leon Kiptum stepped down from his role at Flutterwave in June, his farewell message felt more like a pause than a goodbye. He spoke of slowing down, focusing on his health, and reflecting on two transformative years leading Flutterwave’s East Africa business. A month later, on August 3, he passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 44.
Kiptum’s passing has deeply moved Kenya’s fintech community. Tributes have poured in from founders, former colleagues, mentees, and friends—remembering a man known for his quiet strength, generosity, and deep commitment to others. “He was a wonderful mentor,” wrote Rosemary Muriungi of Equity Bank. “Always cheering me on.”
Before Flutterwave, Kiptum spent over a decade in Kenyan banking—at Barclays (Absa), KCB, Family Bank, and Sidian—before stepping into fintech with Chipper Cash and later Betway. At Flutterwave, he led through a particularly complex period, helping the company steady its footing amid regulatory headwinds.
He believed in people-first leadership. “Your team is your greatest asset,” he once wrote. As a board member at the Association of Fintechs in Kenya, he pushed for better dialogue between startups and regulators, and for a more unified industry voice.
Kiptum had recently begun a new journey at Rigour Africa, focused on guiding startups to grow with purpose. He was passionate about reshaping venture capital and making space for more thoughtful, founder-centered growth.
Above all, he was a father of three—a role he often said was his most important.
