Kivu Choice CEO steps down after scaling Rwanda’s aquaculture output

RWANDA – Kivu Choice, a vertically integrated aquaculture company, has announced that co-founder and chief executive officer Kamran Heinrich Ahmad has stepped down from his role, handing over leadership to Emmanuel Bahizi as the company enters its next phase of growth.

Ahmad, who relocated to Rwanda in 2021 to establish the business, led the rapid scale-up of Kivu Choice into what he described as the country’s largest agricultural enterprise and one of its biggest private employers, with more than 600 staff.

Under his leadership, the company has grown into a major player in African aquaculture, producing over 1 million fish meals per month and aiming to reach more than 10,000 metric tons of tilapia production in 2026. 

The business is also building capacity to reach an annualised run rate of more than 20,000 metric tons, positioning it among the largest tilapia producers globally.

“Kivu Choice has grown into the largest agricultural business in Rwanda and one of the largest private employers in the country,” Ahmad said, highlighting the company’s role in expanding access to affordable protein.

Since its launch, the company has contributed to a 2.5-fold increase in Rwanda’s aquaculture production while reducing fish prices by 25%-50% in its core markets. 

The business is also expected to add nearly 1 kg of fish per capita annually, equivalent to about half the country’s per capita consumption in 2021.

The company is now preparing to commission a large-scale fish powder production facility to address malnutrition challenges.

The facility is expected to supply a low-cost nutritional product targeting approximately 89,000 children aged 0–2 years considered at risk of stunting, with an estimated annual cost of under US$3.5 million.

Ahmad said the transition comes as the company has established a strong operational and infrastructure base to support continued expansion.

“I’ve made the decision to step down as CEO and hand over to my colleague Emmanuel Bahizi, who will now take on the role of Managing Director,” he said, adding that he remains confident in the leadership team’s ability to scale the business further.

The development also reflects the broader growth of the Victory Group, which backed Kivu Choice as part of its regional expansion strategy. Joseph Rehmann, Founder & Group CEO for Victory Farms and Kivu Choice, said Ahmad played a key role in building the group’s international footprint.

“His experience stands as a testimony to the impact that can be achieved when talent, capital and a scalable model come together to make fish protein affordable,” Rehmann said.

The leadership transition comes at a time when aquaculture is gaining momentum across East Africa, driven by rising demand for affordable protein and increasing investment in scalable production systems. 

Companies such as Kivu Choice are playing a central role in reshaping supply, improving accessibility and supporting food security in the region.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.