Over the years, many Kenyans have been recognised for their community-based programs that have changed the lives of the people.
Such an initiative by Kakenya Ntaiya, a Kenyan activist, caught the attention of Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, who is one of the wealthiest men in the world.
According to the 2022 Forbes list of wealthiest persons in the world, Bill Gates came in fourth with a net worth estimated at Ksh14.8 trillion (USD130.3 billion).
Ntaiya's founded the Kakenya School in 2009 and enrolled 30 students. The main goal of the institution was to advocate for girl child education and campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Her promotion of the girl-child education and anti-FGM crusade saw her featured by Gates in an article that he wrote himself.
In the article, Gates revealed that he learnt of the Kenyan activist from his former wife, Melinda Gates while she was writing a book after her visit to Kenya.
The Microsoft co-founder described Ntaiya as a brave woman whose work changed the lives of many girls in the country.
"I first heard about Kakenya through Melinda when she was working on her book, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World.
"Her story is a powerful example of how one person’s act of bravery can spark dramatic change not only in their own life but also in hundreds of other lives," he stated.
Gates added that the advocacy work of the likes of Ntaiya is what encouraged him to start gender equality division under the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help in promoting gender equality in the world.
"In 2020, our foundation officially launched a Gender Equality Division to further our commitment to gender equality outcomes across the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals," Gates documented.
On her part, Ntaiya stated that she decided to pursue a degree in education because of her love of educating young people. The Kenyan activist's love for education saw her earn a scholarship to pursue a doctorate degree in Education at the University of Pittsburgh.
“Life for girls in rural Kenya can be quite hard. The girl's expectation is that you grow up, go through FGM, get a husband, have children and that is your life.
“I have always wanted freedom for girls. There was this conviction in me that I had to do something, so I went to school to become a teacher,” she disclosed in a past interview.
Over the years, Ntaiya has won international accolades for her work and was Feminist Majority Global Women’s Rights Award in 2013 from the feminist Majority foundation. Additionally, she was named among the Women Deliver 100 Most Inspiring People Delivering for Girls and Women.
