- The winners’ meeting with the leaders recognized their impact on the country through their companies and initiatives.
- They met with Peninah Malonza, CS Tourism, at her office before proceeding to DP Rigathi Gachagua’s office for a courtesy call.
- The award recognizes and rewards innovation, resilience, and excellent leadership.
Following the recently concluded Forty Under 40 Africa Awards in South Africa, winners from Kenya showcased their accolades to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza on April 4, 2023.
Out of the 27 nominees from Kenya, eight managed to scoop awards for their innovative projects and leadership in various categories.
The eight changemakers presented their prowess which has contributed massively to business growth, professional excellence and community development.
With unmatched felicity in their voices, they shared their impactful stories with DP Gachagua and CS Malonza.
The winners also pointed out what set them apart from their competitors and the compelling value they bring to the community.
Each of the winners had a unique approach to how their innovations and initiatives would transform and impact their immediate communities positively.
Listening to them substantiate and dissect the trajectory of their ideas justified why they deserved the awards.
DP Gachagua congratulated them on their stellar wins and adjured them to stay focused as they chase their individual goals.
Young people’s potential
He also added that it is inspiring to see young people taking up opportunities to improve their lives and contribute to Kenya’s development.
“It is always a great pleasure hosting and interacting with young and ambitious people doing exemplary work in their fields of expertise. Young people are the future of this country,” DP Gachagua said.
The DP noted that the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) prioritizes directing more resources to the bottom of the economic pyramid, where most youths are.
Even though Kenya lacks minerals, oil and capital, DP Gachagua stated that one abundant thing is human resources.
In addition, “Kenyans are hardworking and we are working towards giving young people a conducive working environment,” he remarked.
He also emphasized that the success of the eight winners has made Kenya proud and has immensely presented the country as a land of opportunities.
Amidst a story of his childhood, DP Gachagua advised, “Hard-work and focus will get you where you want to be. Scale the heights, opportunities are abundant.”
Keeping up the spirit
To keep the fire burning, CS Malonza urged them to continue with the same spirit of impacting the community and flying the Kenyan flag higher.
She also added that the win is a major boost to Kenya’s tourism sector and that she was proud to see the awards come home.
The CS flagged off the team on March 20, 2023, as they headed to South Africa for the prestigious awards ceremony. Seeing them come back with the awards, she says, was enthralling.
“It’s such a great honour to see young people impacting communities and winning awards for the same. This is a great gesture for Kenya as a destination for both innovation and tourism,” she said.
One of the young achievers, Joan Musumba, Managing Director of Little Big Talents, opined that with a growing number of youth engaging in activities that are impactful to the community, it might be easy for some to go unrecognized.
“There are a lot of youths and youth groups out there doing amazing projects on environment conservation, climate action, women empowerment, among other projects but they don’t get easily recognized. We are just a representation of many other youths out there,” she said.
With the youth constituting 35% of Kenya’s population, tapping into their potential will largely boost innovation and community service.
DP Gachagua and CS Malonza showed dire interest in getting involved in youth programs and initiatives and offering support where possible.
The change makers
From the stiff contest of 126 nominees, eight Kenyans emerged winners in the categories of capacity building, agriculture, journalism, social enterprise, education, environmental and climate sustainability, science, and surgery.
Gilbert Ang’ana, the CEO of Accent Leadership Group Ltd., was awarded under the category of Capacity Building.
Through his initiative, Mr. Ang’ana envisions providing the requisite momentum for the leaders to be the best in what they do and lead with humanity and clarity of vision.
Wangari Kuria, Founder of Farmer on Fire Ltd., bagged the Agriculture award.
Ms. Kuria creates visibility for businesses through her agri-fluencer start-up. She also offers agronomic support to farmers who want to get into mushroom farming.
The journalism (Radio/TV/Newspaper) category was awarded to Elijah Nyaanga, the Founder and CEO of Scholar Media Group Africa (SMEGA).
Scholar Media Africa continues to share impeccably positive, life-changing, and educative stories under the wings of Mr. Nyaanga.
The award-winning, seasoned journalist is also Kenya’s representative to the Turkey–Africa Trade & Investment Council (TATIC) and Kenya’s Delegate to the Global Chamber of Business Leaders (GCBL), headquartered in Switzerland.
Isaac Mwangi, a social entrepreneur running Voluntours Adventures and Anyoraa Camp Maasai Mara, was awarded under the category of Social Enterprise.
He has impacted the communities in Maasai Mara through projects that have escalated women empowerment and opened doors for economic development.
Linda Odhiambo, Founder and Director of Lindtech College, Nairobi, was prized under the Education category.
She pictures a society aligned towards poverty eradication, quality education, decent work, economic growth, industrialization, innovation, and infrastructure.
Under the category of environmental and climate sustainability, Joan Musumba, Managing Director of Little Big Talents, emerged the winner among the five competitors in the same race.
Through Little Big Talents, the children’s rights and climate ambassador has mobilized copious children to propel the agenda of climate action and environmental conservation.
Dr. Nchafatso Obonyo, Graduate Research Fellow at Critical Care Research Group-The University of Queensland and Clinical researcher at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), was awarded under the category of Science.
Dr. Steve Mutiso from Aga Khan University Hospital was awarded under the Surgery category.
Also in attendance were Sosthen Eugine, Executive Director of Youth Governance in Action, who was nominated under the category of governance; Edwin Taka, Founder of Sawa Youth Watch, nominated under community development; and Damaris Nyabuti, CEO of Dharkemmy Corporate Communications Ltd., nominated under Consultancy and professional services.
Kenya, next host?
The winners have stamped the Kenyan flag on the map and are hoping to host next year’s Forty Under 40 Africa Awards 2023.
The Forty Under 40 Africa Awards is an initiative that seeks to celebrate the continent’s most influential and accomplished young business leaders under the age of forty.
The initiative has so far shaped the narrative on Africa by recognizing and celebrating emerging leaders from various fields of interest.
Its inaugural awards ceremony was held in 2022 at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra, Ghana.
The second cohort savored the ceremony at the Leonardo Hotel in Sandton City, South Africa, held on March 22-25, 2023.
This year’s event saw more than 3,000 applications in total, with nominations from 24 countries across the 40 different categories.
With fingers crossed and hopes high, Kenya is peeping into hosting next year’s event.
A whopping 126 nominees were handpicked from 24 African countries for the coveted prize. Kenya had 27 nominees for the award.
Out of the 24 countries on the list, 15 produced the winners.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya shine in Forty Under 40 Africa awards
South Africa, which was the host, led with 11 trophies, Nigeria had 10, Kenya scooped 8, Tanzania and Zimbabwe tied at 4 trophies each, Ghana was number five, with 3 trophies, followed by Uganda with 2.
Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritius, South Sudan, Cameroon and Rwanda had 1 trophy each.
