( Nairobi , 06 August 2025). In a powerful celebration of resilience, dignity, and people-driven change, Kenya¡¯s first-ever recipient of the United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, Mr. Kennedy Odede, received a standing ovation today at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).
The event drew a diverse audience of over 200 participants, including United Nations officials, government representatives, diplomats, civil society actors, and members of academia. Mr. Odede received sustained standing applause for his extraordinary journey of a man who turned despair into hope¡ªand hope into action. His remarks reflected deeply on his personal journey and the role of community action in driving social change.
¡°Hope alone is not enough,¡± Mr. Odede told a visibly moved audience. ¡°We must shift from pity to partnership and ensure that no child is born into invisibility.¡± His words echoed the enduring legacy of Nelson Mandela, whose belief in dignity and justice for all formed the spirit of the award he now holds.
Throughout the event, Mr. Odede graciously emphasized that the award was not a personal achievement, but a shared milestone for the communities he works with. ¡°This is not my story alone,¡± he said. ¡°It is the story of many people who believed that change was possible¡ªeven when the odds were stacked against us.¡±
Mr. Odede recalled growing up in Kibera, one of Africa¡¯s largest informal settlements, and living on the streets of Nairobi from the age of ten. He shared how early efforts to mobilise young people through sport gradually evolved into more structured initiatives¡ªleading to the founding of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), a community-based organization now working across 68 locations in Kenya.
Today, SHOFCO provides services that range from education and health care to clean water, economic empowerment and community mapping, reaching more than 2.5 million people annually.
Odede reminded participants: "This is not the end, but the beginning of another hill."
¡°There are still enough hands...¡±
Referencing Mandela¡¯s timeless words¡ª¡°What counts in life is the difference we have made in the lives of others¡±¡ªOdede dedicated his award to the communities that shaped him and continue to fuel his vision.
The celebratory event drew warm remarks from dignitaries who affirmed the magnitude of Odede¡¯s impact:
UNON Director-General Zainab Hawa Bangura congratulated Mr. Odede for his decades of work supporting urban communities, particularly in informal settlements. ¡°Your work aligns strongly with the values Nelson Mandela stood for¡ªdignity, justice, and the belief in the power of communities to transform their futures,¡± she said.
Ms. Catherine Nyakoe, Charg¨¦ d¡¯Affaires at Kenya¡¯s Permanent Mission to UNON, also paid tribute to Mr. Odede¡¯s contributions, affirming the government¡¯s pride in his work. She noted that SHOFCO¡¯s approach supports Kenya¡¯s Vision 2030 and the national commitment to empowering people living in vulnerable circumstances.
South Africa¡¯s High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr. Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, reflected on the symbolic significance of the occasion, describing Mr. Odede¡¯s efforts as a realisation of the values behind Mandela Day. He recalled this year¡¯s Mandela Day activities on 18 July, during which diplomats and UN staff volunteered at Kenyatta National Hospital¡¯s children¡¯s ward.
A Global Honour
The UN Nelson Mandela Prize is awarded every five years to individuals who have dedicated their lives to the service of humanity. Mr. Odede shares the 2025 Prize with Ms. Brenda Reynolds, a social worker from Canada who has worked to improve health outcomes for Indigenous communities.
They received the award jointly on18 July 2025, International Nelson Mandela Day, during a formal ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, presided over by UN Secretary-General Ant¨®nio Guterres and the President of the 79th General Assembly, Mr. Phil¨¦mon Yang.
Mr Odede left the audience with a message as bold as it was humbling:
¡°In the past, Kibera was not on the map. But through the efforts of the community, we moved from the margins on to the map.¡±
