On Wednesday, February 26, Hamisa Zaja, a Kenyan woman who heads the Coast Association for Persons with Disabilities, received an award in the United States for her peacekeeping efforts.
Hamisa was one of the four finalists for the Women Building Peace Award, bestowed by the US Institute of Peace (USIP).
According to the institute, they received a total of 150 nominations from 42 countries, considering candidates for the award this year.
However, the Institute ultimately selected four finalists: Dr Marie-Marcelle Deschamps (Haiti), Abir Ibrahim (Syria), Petronille Vaweka (DRC), and Hamisa Zaja (Kenya).
Hamisa was honoured for her decade-long dedication to promoting human rights and resolving conflicts.
“The award is a testament to Kenya's recognition for peace and should serve as an example to other nations amidst the conflicts in many parts of the world,” explained Hamisa.
Discussing her activism strategy, Hamisa highlighted her focus on providing resources and enhancing livelihoods to foster peace.
Speaking at the Moi International Airport before departing for Washington, Hamisa stated, “My work focuses on empowerment through the implementation of tangible income-generating projects that enhance people’s lives.”
According to a spot check into her accomplishments, Kenyans.co.ke learned that Hamisa played an instrumental role in quelling a conflict in Tana River County in 2012 that cost more than 100 people their lives.
Additionally, Hamisa is also an activist for the rights of People Living With Disabilities where she heads the Coast Association, having been diagnosed with Polio in her childhood.
The activist, who has also set up a resource centre in Majengo, Mombasa explained that the centre equips more than 1500 women with skills to make a living including purchasing a sewing machine for some of her mentees.
Kenya has continued to be on the map, with more women receiving awards in the global space.
Earlier, this February a Kenyan Woman, Wawira Njiru, was one of the ten winners of the Elevate Prize Award for her initiative feeding school children, Food for Education.
