President Uhuru Kenyatta's mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, finally laid her hands on a continental award she won in Senegal in 2020.
In a special ceremony held at her Nairobi home on Sunday, February 7, the former First Lady received the 2019 Macky Sall Prize for Dialogue in Africa presented to her by Defence Cabinet Secretary Dr Amb Monica Juma.
Mama Ngina was awarded in December 2020 at the Museum of Black Civilization in Dakar, Senegal by President Macky Sall for her role in mediating peace through dialogue.
The annual prize is awarded to African personalities who use dialogue to avert conflict on the continent and is named after the Senegalese President Macky Sall who is a celebrated African mediator.
Speaking after she received the award, Mama Ngina thanked the organisation for the recognition saying it was an honour for Kenya's frontline role in the search for lasting peace and stability in Eastern Africa.
I didn't know that there are people who know where we've come from as a country and how they settled on me as the recipient of the award. I am grateful," she said.
The prize handover ceremony was attended by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua and Foreign Affairs PS Amb Macharia Kamau.
The prize includes prize money worth 50,000 Euros which is approximately Ksh6.7 million.
While receiving the award in Senegal on behalf of the former First Lady, CS Juma observed that the award recognised that women’s actions and voices matter and do make a difference.
She pointed out Mama Ngina's role in mediating through the political tensions in Kenya in 2017.
“Mama Ngina Kenyatta played a momentous role of preaching peace and reconciliation at a point in time when Kenya’s 2017 General Election foreshadowed a foul ending. Her choice was dialogue. And it worked.
"Dialogue is critical because it promotes tolerance and dignity of each human being – a critical ingredient for peaceful resolution of conflict,” stated Juma at the time.
