Shakira Wafula rose to prominence during the June 2024 Gen Z protests, where her courage in the face of police resistance captivated Kenyans.
Her bravery warranted the attention of Kenyans after she fearlessly faced the police during the protests and confronted them.
In a viral video, she was seen boldly confronting the police, saying, “I am here for my people, I am here for your rights. Nitoe! Nitoe baba! Sitoki!”
Njeri Migwi is a tireless advocate for justice in the face of rising violence against women in Kenya.
Born and raised in Kariobangi, Nairobi, she was raised by her father after her parents divorced when she was six. Married at 16, Migwi endured violence, which fuelled her resolve to support others in similar situations.
She co-founded Usikimye, a movement combatting sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), providing refuge and a voice for survivors.
Julius Kamau Kimani is a passionate activist and philanthropist who captured public attention in June 2024 when he disrupted a Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u budget session photo shoot.
Arrested for breaching the peace, Kimani boldly declared to the Milimani court that even a 100-year sentence would not deter him from advocating for better leadership in Kenya.
Despite the arrest, Kimani's bravery was evident through the tribulations.
Eric Gitari is a former Executive Director at the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC). He is also a lawyer, teacher, researcher and author.
During his tenure at NGLHRC, Gitari championed legal and policy reforms towards equality and full inclusion of sexual and gender minorities in Kenya.
In 2015, the NGO which was headed by Gitari at the time, defended two men who had been arrested for being gay.
In the current digital world, creativity is a currency.
Esther Kazungu, a former video journalist and actor, has capitalized on this trend, transforming content creation into a thriving full-time career.
Renowned for her TikTok skits, she skillfully mimics South African Parliamentarians, captivating audiences and gaining substantial traction.
Her ingenuity catapulted her into the limelight, leading to a notable interview with a South African news channel.
There is a common joke within Kenyan social circles that national treasures don’t have to be monuments and artifacts; human beings can fall into the same bracket as well.
Stephen Okoth Ochieng alias Ondivow, a photographer and art director, managed to draw national attention with his creative pieces documenting the anti-government protests that rocked the country earlier in the year.
Zipporah Nderitu burst into the limelight in September 2023, after she won an international award for protecting women against violence.
Nderitu who is a Senior Superintendent of Police and Police Advisor to the International Peace Support Training Center (IPSTC), has been at the forefront of fighting against sexual-gender-based violence in Kenya.
In a ceremony held in Auckland, New Zealand, Nderitu became the first Kenyan to receive the distinguished award.
Joel Shunza Gitali is a Kiswahili teacher at Busia’s St. Stephen Bujwang'a Secondary School in Busia County.
He also doubles as the chairperson of the Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance.
Elizabeth Wathuti is an environmental conservation and climate activist.
She is also the founder of the Green Generation Initiative and sustainability analyst at Sustainable Square, Kenya
Wathuti is a recipient of the Wangari Maathai Scholarship award a recognition she got for her commitment to championing the conservation of the environment
Mtai is a Climate Activist and Youth Environmental activist.
Currently, Mtai serves as Africa Coordinator for Earth Uprising, member of Global Children’s Campaign and Event Coordinator at MockCOP26.
Mtai has been a champion for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for more than 3 years.