President William Ruto has awarded 15 Kenyans and one Nigerian the National Heroes Awards for their outstanding contributions that have made a significant impact in the country.
The ceremony was held at Kitui State Lodge in Kitui County, after the Mashujaa Day celebrations on Monday, where the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was posthumously given the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (C.G.H.), First Class, the nation’s highest civilian honour.
From Kitui, two trailblazers were celebrated. Dr Joyce Daudi Nzulwa was recognised for advancing good governance, diversity and inclusion, while embodying integrity and service excellence.
Ms Eunice Koli Kimwele was honoured for her charitable work with young people, mentoring them in civic knowledge and entrepreneurship.
From the Coast, Mr Shukri Baramadei was commended for strengthening national stability through leadership in security and maritime infrastructure.
Baringo’s Caroline N Lentupuru earned recognition for her tireless campaign against female genital mutilation and her efforts to secure education for vulnerable girls.
Dr Chris Kiprotich Kiptoo of Elgeyo Marakwet, the National Treasury Principal Secretary, was awarded the honour for environmental conservation through the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme, which has restored thousands of hectares of degraded forest and promoted clean energy use.
International honours went to Nigerian diplomat Jonathan Emmamuzo Ojadah for championing peace and good governance across Africa.
In Murang’a, Dr Dianah Wanjiku Kamande was honoured for her work with the “Come Together Widows and Orphans Organisation”, which has supported widows and children for more than a decade.
Mr Elias Jama Noor from Wajir got a feather in his cap for the central role he played in reconciliation after the 2007 post-election violence through peace education campaigns.
On his part, Mr Adan Hassan Sagar was recognised for reconciling communities in North-Eastern Kenya through grassroots activism and spiritual leadership.
For efforts in cultural preservation in Nandi, the Rev Javan Kiprotich Tarno was commended for modernising the rites of passage and instilling discipline and harmony among young men.
In sports, Nairobi’s Mildred Omari Cheche was recognised for guiding the U17 Starlets to their first-ever appearance at the Ladies World Cup, while Mombasa’s Abud Omar Khamis was awarded for captaining national team Harambee Stars to the quarter finals of the 2024 CHAN tournament.
In education and philanthropy, Prof Bosire Monari from Kisii was commended for more than three decades of scholarship and his role in shaping the Competency Based Curriculum.
Kisumu’s Peter Odhiambo Okul was recognised for uplifting communities through safety training, youth employment, and tree planting.
Mr Lenonid Ashindu of Nairobi was rewarded for engineering excellence, expertise in construction and leadership in professional organisations where he has pushed for ethics and mentorship.
Rounding off the list, Dr Nyakona Roselyne David from Kisii was hailed for her fearless advocacy of women’s rights and her fight against gender violence.
