PROFILE

Holliness Lumbi advises on complex energy, infrastructure and investment projects across Africa.

Holliness Lumbi is a Partner and Head of Projects, Energy and Infrastructure at Ashitiva Advocates LLP, with over a decade of experience advising on complex infrastructure investments, public-private partnerships (PPPs), project finance and capital mobilisation. Her practice sits at the intersection of law, finance and infrastructure development, advising governments, project sponsors, developers, development finance institutions, institutional investors and financiers on major infrastructure and energy transactions. Her expertise spans investment structuring, capital mobilisation strategies, investor engagement and the development of bankable projects through debt, equity, blended finance and innovative financing solutions. Her sector experience encompasses energy transition, transport and logistics, water, industrial and social infrastructure, with a particular focus on climate-resilient infrastructure and sustainable development. Holliness advises across the full project lifecycle, from origination, feasibility and procurement through transaction structuring, financing and implementation to operations, refinancing and investor exit. Drawing on her experience in private practice, in-house legal leadership and investment management, she brings a commercially grounded perspective to structuring and advancing complex infrastructure investments across Africa.

Read full biography
Holliness Lumbi is a Partner and Head of Projects, Energy and Infrastructure at Ashitiva Advocates LLP, with over a decade of experience advising on complex infrastructure investments, public-private partnerships (PPPs), project finance and capital mobilisation. Her practice sits at the intersection of law, finance and infrastructure development, advising governments, project sponsors, developers, development finance institutions, institutional investors and financiers on major infrastructure and energy transactions. Her expertise spans investment structuring, capital mobilisation strategies, investor engagement and the development of bankable projects through debt, equity, blended finance and innovative financing solutions. Her sector experience encompasses energy transition, transport and logistics, water, industrial and social infrastructure, with a particular focus on climate-resilient infrastructure and sustainable development. Holliness advises across the full project lifecycle, from origination, feasibility and procurement through transaction structuring, financing and implementation to operations, refinancing and investor exit. Drawing on her experience in private practice, in-house legal leadership and investment management, she brings a commercially grounded perspective to structuring and advancing complex infrastructure investments across Africa.
Projects, Energy & InfrastructurePublic-Private Partnerships (PPPs)Project Development & FinanceInfrastructure Investment & Capital MobilisationEnergy Transition & Climate & Sustainability Finance
Energy Transition & PowerTransport & Logistics InfrastructurePorts, Maritime & AviationWater & SanitationClimate, Sustainability & Environmental Infrastructure

Selected Experience

A USD 3.5 billion national expressway PPP covering the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a major transport corridor, including project structuring, feasibility assessment, financing arrangements and negotiation of key project agreements.

A USD 2.5 billion international airport expansion and modernisation project structured under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, including transaction advisory, project finance and risk assessment, concession structuring and negotiations.

A proposed USD 11 billion regional infrastructure development programme encompassing port expansion, a 2,100 km cross-border railway network, logistics hubs and smart cities, including legal and transaction advisory on strategic infrastructure development.

Advising a multilateral development institution on climate-resilient infrastructure financing across Kenyan counties, including PPP frameworks, revenue diversification and innovative financing instruments to support sustainable infrastructure investment.

A USD 20 million development finance-backed hydropower investment programme involving the financing and development of two small hydropower projects, including financing agreements with international development finance institutions. (Prior to joining Ashitiva Advocates.)

A proposed USD 120 million national energy efficiency and conservation utility, including legal, regulatory and institutional structuring of a public energy service company model, governance arrangements and contractual frameworks.

A KES 43 billion engineering, procurement and construction transaction involving a proposed securitisation, including transaction structuring, contractual risk allocation and regulatory advisory.

Advising an alternative investment manager on approximately USD 115 million in real estate joint venture investments, including investment structuring, transaction execution and facilitating access to institutional and private capital. (Prior to joining Ashitiva Advocates.)

Recognition

Africa Hall of Fame for Commercial Lawyers, Kenya 2026, The Lawyer Africa.

Project Finance Expert and Practice Leader, recognised by The Legal 500 in its Projects and Privatisation ranking for Kenya, 2026.

Practice Leadership Recognition, Chambers & Partners Global Guide 2026, Projects & Energy.

Invited Guest Speaker/Faculty, Public-Private Partnerships Programme, Strathmore University Business School, 2026.

Speaker, Law Society of Kenya Nairobi Branch In-House Counsel Committee, 2026.

Panellist, Dubai Arbitration Week, Africa Construction Law and CIArb UAE Branch, 2025, on delivery and risk management in Middle East and African mega-projects.

Invited Expert, Pinsent Masons and Keating Chambers, 2025, on regional infrastructure delivery frameworks and PPP laws, South Africa.

Qualifications

ADMISSIONS

Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, admitted in 2016; current practising certificate for 2026.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

Certificate in Infrastructure Financing, Regulation and Management, Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education

Pan-African Executive MBA International Module, IESE Business School, University of Navarra

Master of Business Administration (MBA), Strathmore University

Postgraduate Diploma in Law, Kenya School of Law

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), University of Nairobi

LANGUAGES

English, Swahili

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Law Society of Kenya — member in good standing.

Institute of Company Secretaries (Kenya) — practising member in good standing, registered since 2019.

DISCLAIMER

The information contained in this profile is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.