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Tag: Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO)

  • SHOFCO’s Odede receives top humanitarian award for transforming lives

    SHOFCO’s Odede receives top humanitarian award for transforming lives

    Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Founder and CEO, Dr. Kennedy Odede, has been honoured with the 2024 Outstanding Humanitarian Award by Top Charts Africa, a Nigeria-based organization.

    Dr. Odede was recognized for his unwavering efforts in uplifting slum dwellers and vulnerable communities across 40 counties in Kenya.

    “The Outstanding Humanitarian Award celebrates individuals or organizations that have made exceptional contributions to humanitarian causes,” Top Charts Africa announced during the award ceremony.

    Dr. Odede emerged as the recipient from a pool of eight distinguished nominees from across Africa. Among them were Osita Obidike of Rebuildx Africa (Liberia), Gerald Abila of Barefoot Law (Uganda), and Otto Orondaam of Slum2School (Nigeria).

    Others included Olamilekan Agbeleshela of Laycon Cares Foundation (Nigeria), Somachi Chris Asoluka of Tony Elumelu Foundation (Nigeria), William Troost-Ekong of Troost-Ekong Foundation (Nigeria), and Tunde Onakoya of Chess in Slums (Nigeria).

    Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Odede stated, “I’m truly humbled to receive the 2024 Outstanding Humanitarian Award by Top Charts Africa in West Africa. I dedicate this award to the communities we serve across Kenya through SHOFCO.”

    This recognition adds to Dr. Odede’s growing list of accolades. He was recently named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024 and previously received the 2023 TIME100 Impact Award Africa, Schwab Social Innovator of the Year 2022, and the East Africa Philanthropy Jury Award, among others.

    Born and raised in Kibera, Nairobi, as the eldest of eight children, Dr. Odede experienced extreme poverty and violence firsthand. He became a street boy at the age of 10 and later joined a gang before turning his life around.

    In 2004, with only a soccer ball and Ksh20, he founded SHOFCO to address the challenges faced by slum communities.

    Today, SHOFCO has expanded its reach across 40 counties in Kenya, serving over six million people annually. The organization takes a holistic approach to community development, tackling multiple dimensions of poverty and inequality to create lasting change.

    SHOFCO’s programs focus on education, healthcare, water and sanitation, economic empowerment, community mobilization, and youth development.

    The organization operates Kibera School for Girls and Mathare School for Girls, which currently serve 580 students. Its economic empowerment initiatives, including entrepreneurship training, TVET programs, and job placements, have benefited over one million youth in the past two years.

    Access to clean water remains one of SHOFCO’s landmark achievements. Reflecting on his childhood struggles, Dr. Odede recalled, “We used to walk several kilometers to fetch water, often falling sick due to contamination. The underground pipes would mix with raw sewage.”

    This challenge led SHOFCO to introduce Kenya’s first aerial water piping system, ensuring safer and more reliable water access for over 250,000 residents in Kibera and Mathare slums through 53 water kiosks.

    SHOFCO’s impact has gained international attention. In 2022, The Bridgespan Group, a leading nonprofit consulting firm, conducted a case study on SHOFCO’s community-driven model, showcasing it as a benchmark for global NGOs.

    Beyond his leadership at SHOFCO, Dr. Odede serves as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, a USAID Advisory Board Member, and an Obama Foundation Africa Leader. He is also a recipient of the Mohammed Ali Humanitarian Award.

    He is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss, and Hope in an African Slum. With this latest award, Dr. Odede continues to solidify his place among Africa’s most influential humanitarians, driving transformative change for millions in Kenya and beyond.

  • SHOFCO CEO, Odede, recognized for his community services

    SHOFCO CEO, Odede, recognized for his community services

    Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Founder and CEO Dr. Kennedy Odede has been named among Kenya’s 50 most influential men of 2024 alongside Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Mount Kenya University Founder Prof Simon Gicharu.

    The recognition by Africapitol Ventures was announced on Friday, October 25 during a gala dinner held at KICC.

    Dr. Odede was recognized for his role in uplifting the lives of underprivileged communities across 40 counties in Kenya.

    “I’m grateful for this recognition and energized to keep working with communities nationwide on real solutions to unemployment, climate change, education, and water access. Let’s keep pushing for lasting change together,” Dr. Odede said.

    The SHOFCO boss encouraged fellow honoraries to keep pushing for good leadership and governance that prioritize local communities.

    “We have a critical role in investing in young people and I believe that all of us, in our different sectors, can support them. We can help them access the tools they need to adapt to an increasingly rapid change while playing a constructive role in society,” he said.

    This recognition adds to Odede’s bucket list having received both local and international awards key among them including Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024, 2023 Time 100 Impact Award Africa, Schwab Social Innovator of the Year 2022, seventh East Africa Philanthropy Jury Award among others.

    “Kennedy is living proof that individuals can lead themselves, and their communities, out of poverty. Kennedy finds ingenious solutions: schools for the most vulnerable girls, training programs for men to combat domestic violence, safe houses for survivors, community libraries, employment programs, innovative clean-water kiosks, a community cooperative bank,” TIME100 stated during the award ceremony 2024.

    SHOFCO’s approach to community development is holistic, addressing multiple dimensions of poverty and inequality to create lasting change.

    Its programs focus on education, healthcare, water and sanitation, economic empowerment, community mobilization, and youth development, all aimed at improving the well-being and opportunities of residents in urban slums and rural areas.

    The organization has reached one million youth through various courses such as entrepreneurship training, sporting activities, TVET training, and job and internship placements.

    Under its education program, SHOFCO runs two schools, Kibera School for Girls and Mathare School for Girls, with a student population of 580.

    The students are fully sponsored from grades one through eight and receive vital services such as healthcare and water, along with their families.

    SHOFCO pioneered aerial water piping systems in Kibera to combat vandalism and theft of pipes, ending water contamination.

    These pipes terminate at 57 water kiosks in Kibera and Mathare slums, serving over 200,000 residents daily.

    The organization also supplies water to 47 schools and five health centres in Kibera and Lang’ata sub-counties for free.

    The organization operates three Level 3 health centres in Kibera (2) and Mathare (1), serving over 600 patients daily.

    SHOFCO’s healthcare outreaches in Nairobi, Mombasa, Siaya, and Kakamega counties reached reached 467,087 individuals in 2023.

    Through its Sustainable Livelihoods program, SHOFCO reached 76,614 vulnerable women, training them in various skills such as tailoring, handicrafts, and other soft skills to support their economic empowerment.

    The organization also supported 15,000 gender-based violence survivors, running safe houses in Kibera and Mathare and helping victims get justice and empowerment.

    In 2022, SHOFCO’s community-driven change model became a benchmark for global NGOs following a case study by Bridgespan Group, which highlighted SHOFCO’s effective community-driven approaches and lasting impact.

    SHOFCO continues to embody its commitment to transforming lives and creating sustainable, community-driven development in Kenya.

     

  • Odede hailed for life-changing community services in Nyanza

    Odede hailed for life-changing community services in Nyanza

    Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Founder and CEO Dr Kennedy Odede has been hailed for his community services that have uplifted the lives of Nyanza region residents.

    Speaking during his coronation as Luo Council of Elders Deputy Chairman on Saturday in Rarieda, James Ayaga said through SHOFCO, Dr. Odede has rehabilitated several water pans, offered scholarships to students, distributed maize seeds, and launched several youth and women empowerment programs in Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya and Migori counties.

    “What our son Odede has done in this region is commendable. I’m calling on all residents of Nyanza region including political leaders to support and allow him to roll out programs that can change the lives of our people,” Ayaga said.

    The deputy chair further said he has seen what Dr Odede has done in Nairobi after he visited SHOFCO sites earlier this year.

    “I have seen what he has done in Nairobi and it’s not only there; he is changing lives across Kenya. Odede is our son. We want to welcome him home and support him in whatever he does because he is doing great things,” he added.

    At the same time, Ayaga thanked Dr. Odede for the support he accorded him during installation preparations.

    “I love him (Odede) because he respects and supports our community traditions,” he stated.

    In a statement delivered by SHOFCO Urban Network (SUN) Kisumu County Chairman Allan Metho, Dr Odede underscored the value of embracing culture and tradition, saying it has helped bring the community together.

    “Our culture and tradition are important and we should write them down for the future generation to read.

    “Preserving our culture is essential for fostering identity, diversity, and community cohesion. It enriches the lives of our people and contributes to a more vibrant and inclusive society,” Dr. Odede stated.

    In June, 40 elders led by Ayaga installed Dr. Odede as a Luo elder saying despite his young age, the SHOFCO boss has done a lot for the community.

    The SHOFCO boss was in Siaya to launch a new 3-storey community centre in bid to scale up his empowerment activities in the county.

    The new centre hosts women and youth empowerment programs, the key among them are a school library, tailoring floor, gender office, a community hall, and computer lab.

    “We want to create opportunities for our youth and women. We need to equip them for the job market, prepare them to do business and make them become people who can be the voice of reason in their communities,” Dr Odede said during the launch.

    The coronation came two months after the SHOFCO founder met Luo Council of Elders Chairman Ker Odungi Randa at his home in Nyando, Kisumu County.

    During the meeting, Ker Randa said Dr. Odede has done a lot for Kenya and he deserves to be appreciated.

    “I have been looking for you. I’m happy to see you today and I bless the work of your hands,” Ker told Odede.

    The installation of Ayaga as Luo Council of Elders Deputy Chair was attended by several political leaders led by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo.

  • Odede shares photo chilling with Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister

    Odede shares photo chilling with Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister

    Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Founder and CEO Dr. Kennedy Odede shared a photo on his Instagram chilling with Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Horace Chang in undisclosed location in the Caribbean country.

    Dr. Chang is a powerful Jamaican politician who is also currently serving as the country’s Minister of National Security.

    He was formerly the Minister of Water, Environment and Housing from September 2007 to December 2011.

    Dr. Odede had earlier disclosed that he was in Jamaica on official tour.

    “I had lunch with the Dr. Horace Chang, Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica 🇯🇲. Jessica and I also had a conversation with his family. Jamaica is becoming my second home,” Dr. Odede wrote on his Instagram.

    Prior to visiting Jamaica, the SHFOCO founder was in the United States where he attended TIME100 Summit and Gala on April 24th and 25th.

    Dr. Odede was among the 2024 TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people celebrated during the 2-day event. He was named alongside President William Ruto.

    “Kennedy is living proof that individuals can lead themselves, and their communities, out of poverty. And his work has earned him the trust and admiration of all those around him.

    “Kennedy finds ingenious solutions: schools for the most vulnerable girls, training programs for men to combat domestic violence, safe houses for survivors, community libraries, employment programs, innovative clean-water kiosks, a community cooperative bank,” the Magazine said.

    The magazine further said there is no challenge the SHOFCO boss will not take on.

    “He is an unstoppable force for justice. This dream of hope that started more than 20 years ago in his home in Kibera has now reached more than 3 million Kenyans and is rapidly becoming a blueprint that will one day, hopefully, reach the world—a movement for change led by the people themselves,” it added.

    Dr. Chang joins several world leaders who have met with Dr. Odede recently.

    In February this year, the SHOFCO founder met and held talks with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren in Boston.

    Warren is a powerful US politician who was among the top four vice-presidential choices for the then-Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, along with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Representative Val Demings, and Senator Kamala Harris.

    Last year, Delaware Senator Chris Coons visited SHOFCO where he toured the organisation’s projects in Kibera.

    “I’m happy to be with you Kennedy and I’ve enjoyed seeing what you have done for your community in Kibera. God bless you and SHOFCO,” Coons said in a short video clip shared by Dr. Odede on social media.

    Dr. Odede enjoys wide global network and in September 2022, he was introduced by President Bill Clinton as a close family friend during Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) forum in New York.

    “Pleasure to introduce someone who is to me truly embodies the best of CGI. His (Odede’s) work has improved lives in the most impoverished communities on earth. A long-time friend of our family,” the former President said before ushering him to the podium to speak.

    Dr. Odede founded SHOFCO in 2004 in Kibera and it has now expanded to 35 counties across Kenya.

    In November 2023, Dr. Odede was named alongside former Liberian President Johnson Sirleaf as the winner of the TIME100 Impact Award.

    He is also a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, an Obama Foundation Africa Leader, a USAID Advisory Board member, and the winner of the Mohammed Ali Humanitarian Award among other recognitions.

    Dr. Odede is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss, and Hope in African Slum.

    He has received several awards in Kenya including a Head of State Commendation (HSC) for his role in combating COVID-19 in slums in 2020.

  • Odede named among 100 most influential people globally

    Odede named among 100 most influential people globally

    Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Founder and CEO Dr. Kennedy Odede has been named among Time100’s most influential people globally.

    From pioneers, leaders, and titans to artists, innovators, and icons, these are the most influential and important people in the world of 2024

    In the announcement made on Wednesday, Dr Odede was recognised alongside President William Ruto and World Bank President Ajay Banga among others.

    “Kennedy is living proof that individuals can lead themselves, and their communities, out of poverty.”

    “Kennedy finds ingenious solutions: schools for the most vulnerable girls, training programs for men to combat domestic violence, safe houses for survivors, community libraries, employment programs, innovative clean-water kiosks, a community cooperative bank,” TIME100 stated.

    It added: “There is no challenge he will not take on. He is an unstoppable force for justice. This dream of hope that started more than 20 years ago in his home in Kibera has now reached more than 3 million Kenyans and is rapidly becoming a blueprint that will one day, hopefully, reach the world—a movement for change led by the people themselves.”

    Dr. Odede founded SHOFCO in 2024 with a soccer ball and Ksh 20 in Kibera slums in Nairobi and it has now expanded across Kenya, serving over three million people directly.

    His organisation is addressing community challenges through various courses such as access to health, WASH, community advocacy platforms, education, and sustainable livelihoods programs.

    The oldest of eight children, Dr Odede experienced extreme poverty and violence, became a street boy aged 10 and later joined a gang.

    Having struggled to access water in Kibera slums where clean and safe piped water was non-existent, Dr Odede prioritized the provision of it when he founded SHOFCO.

    “We used to walk several kilometres to get water and most of the time, we would suffer water-borne diseases because the water we got was contaminated due to the underground pipes getting mixed up with raw sewage,” he said in a past interview.

    To reduce contamination, SHOFCO, under Dr. Odede’s leadership, introduced a cutting-edge aerial water piping system which serves over 250,000 residents of Kibera and Mathare slums in Nairobi.

    The pipes are connected to 53 water kiosks, allowing residents to access the precious commodity quickly and consistently.

    Girl’s education is also close to his heart and after witnessing a lot of gender inequality in the slum, he founded two tuition-free schools for girls in Kibera and Mathare slums.

    Shofco Kibera School for Girls (KSG) currently has over 500 students, enjoying full scholarships. The students are picked from the most-needy families in the slums and are enrolled in the school from pre-primary to grade eight.

    Several KSG graduates have enrolled in high schools in the United States, and a good number have joined top universities in the US and Kenya.

    Shofco Mathare School for Girls (MSG) first cohort sat their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) last year and recorded 100 per cent transition to high school.

    SHOFCO has also spread its wings beyond Nairobi as every year, over 2000 needy students from different counties who score more than 300 marks receive scholarships.

    This year alone, some 2,200 needy but bright students have benefitted from the organisation’s scholarship programme.

    “In many underprivileged societies, girls are the ones that bear the brunt of poverty. They are denied education and other essential needs in favour of the boy child. Having grown up in an urban slum, I witnessed this.”

    “We now have two girl schools. The schools have not only given girls the much-needed education but also opened opportunities for them with some having a rare privilege to join high schools in the United States,” Dr Odede once said.

    SHOFCO also runs a health programme and currently has five operational clinics in Kibera and Mathare slums, serving 600 patients daily.

    In addition, the organisation is carrying out health outreaches in several slums in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kakamega and Siaya counties.

    SHOFCO’s Mathare Clinic became the winner of the 2022 prestigious Excellence in Leadership in Family Planning award.

    The organisation emerged as the top in the organization level category after demonstrating its efforts to offer free family planning services to the most vulnerable slum communities in Nairobi.

    “The clinics were started from the idea that people should not die because of health care,” Dr. Odede stated.

    The SHOFCO boss envisioned serving the slum dwellers. Still, the clinic in Mathare is now providing health solutions to people coming from Kariobangi, Ruaraka and Githurai. At the same time, those in Kibera get cases from Kawangware, Mukuru as far as Kiambu and Kitengela.

    The clinics have bagged several other accolades including an Award of Excellence in Improving Access to Primary Healthcare Services in 2020, an award for Excellence in Response to COVID-19 in 2021 and the Best NGO Level 2 Health Centre Award in 2022 (Kibera Clinic).

    As a globally recognized community mobiliser, Dr Odede has been encouraging governments, policy leaders and donors to partner with, listen to, and scale up community-led solutions.

    In addition, he advocates for immediate shifts in resources and financing towards community-led solutions, moving towards a new development paradigm that promotes racial equity and recognizes deep-rooted community trust as the most powerful tool to deliver impact.

    Dr. Odede’s tenacity and persistence over the subject were vindicated in June 2022 when SHOFCO’s community-driven change became a model for global NGOs following a case study conducted by Bridgespan Group which had a close-up look at on-the-ground approaches that make the Kenyan organisation tick.

    His organisation stood out among other NGOs around the world with Bridgespan concluding that their model of community-driven change has achieved an impact that lasts because the community feels a sense of ownership.

    In November 2023, Dr Odede was named alongside former Liberian President Johnson Sirleaf as the winner of the TIME100 Impact Award.

    He is also a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, an Obama Foundation Africa Leader, a USAID Advisory Board member, and the winner of the Mohammed Ali Humanitarian Award among other recognitions.

    Dr. Odede is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss, and Hope in African Slum.

    He has received several awards in Kenya including a Head of State Commendation (HSC) for his role in combating COVID-19 in slums in 2020.

  • Shofco schools post stellar performance in 2023 KCPE exam 

    Shofco schools post stellar performance in 2023 KCPE exam 

    Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) schools in Kibera and Mathare slums posted outstanding performances of 100 percent pass mark in the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results released Thursday by Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC). 

    SHOFCO’s Kibera School for Girls returned a mean score of 371 marks while its sister school in Mathare posted a mean score of 362 marks even as the country marked the end of 8-4-4 to pave way for the the Competency Based Curriculum.

    Both the Kibera and Mathare schools had a 100 percent pass rate. KSG had 37 candidates with the least performer scoring 268 while the least performer in Mathare’s 33 candidates scored 291 marks.

    The mean score for Kibera School for Girls known simply as KSG, the highest marks scored since 2017 when the school candidates sat for the national exam for the first time. 

    This year, six learners from KSG and four learners from Mathare scored upwards of 400 marks out of the possible 500.  

    KSG was started in a mud walled classroom with a handful of students as part of SHOFCO’s founder Dr. Kennedy Odede dream and belief that empowering girls and women as change leaders would create sustainable change at the community level. 

    KSG’s Cynthia Atieno Odhiambo and her counterparts from the sister school in Mathare Jessica Rehema and Sophia Atieno were joint best candidates with each of them scoring 414 out of the possible 500. 

    The 15 years – old Cynthia who was registered as index 8 says she was surprised when she heard that she had scored 414 marks.

    ”I was expecting to score 390 marks and above. However, I was surprised when I learned that I am the top KSG student in KCPE,” she said

    She says her outstanding performance was a result of concentration in class, believing in herself that she can, and support from the teachers.

    ”The teachers were very supportive. When you went to them with a challenging question, they didn’t turn their back. They made sure that we     you’re help you out.” Cynthia Atieno lauded KSG teachers support

    Cynthia has been working tirelessly in her studies to score good marks that qualifies her to join Alliance Girls High School or Kenya High. Her dream is to pursue an entrepreneurship course in the university to invent something unique that someone has never invented.

    ”My dream is to start a business of my own, and invent something that someone has never invented ” 

    The girls thanked Shofco Founder and CEO Dr. Kennedy Odede for supporting them in their academic journey, and promised to continue making him proud in high school. 

    “Shofco ensured that we lacked nothing during our studies. It was God-send to me because I knew my parents could not afford to pay my school fees. May God bless our CEO for holding our hands and ensured that we studied without any challenges,” Sophia said. 

    Hope Atieno Onyango is another KSG candidate who shined in the released KCPE exams. Despite the health problem that she has been having since when she was in grade 6, Hope managed to beat the odds for becoming the second best Kibera School for Girls in KCPE for garnering 408 marks.

    Hope is one of the pupils at KSG who has been consistent in her performance despite having health issues. She has been scoring 400 and above marks in the school internal exams and even external examinations. 

    ”My academic journey has been great despite ups and downs. I have been working hard to maintain my performance.” says Hope.

    She says she weak in Mathematics and Kiswahili when she joined grade 8. But her teachers support came in handy helping her to score straight A’s in both subjects. 

    “The teachers were very supportive, whenever I needed help, they were there to assist me.” KSG second best student in 2023 KCPE,” she says.

    The teachers were not only concerned with Hope Atieno’s academic performance, they were also concerned with her health. 

    Hope who has just turned 15 says a brain surgery has inspired her interest in pursuing a neurosurgeon career when she graduates from high school.

    ” When I went through a brain surgery at grade 6, a plate was extracted from the left side of my brain. Since that time I have been having frequent headache and my left limb has also weakened,” says Hope

    She says that she learnt that there are few neurosurgeons in Kenya during the brain surgery journey.

    Hope who has been under SHOFCO support since 2014 when she joined KSG is grateful for the support she has received from the organization. 

    ”I don’t know where I would have been right now. SHOFCO helped my parents in educating me and I am forever grateful for the organisation’s belief in me” 

    KSG’s head teacher Redempta Kinyaka hailed SHOFCO KSG fraternity for the splending relentless effort put in the 2023 candidates.

    According to KSG class eight tutor, Victor Rono, the girl’s performance was below target when they girls joined class eight forcing the teachers to come up with strategies to improve the learners’ performance.

    One of the strategies KSG adopted was to accommodate the girls in school. 

    “Having them board gave us opportunity to teach them from 5:00am in the morning to 9:00pm in the evening,” says Rono.

  • SHOFCO launches TAMBUA, a music skills development & mentorship program

    SHOFCO launches TAMBUA, a music skills development & mentorship program

    The next generation of music stars in Kenya is set to benefit from a talent platform dubbed TAMBUA.

    The platform which was Saturday launched by the community advocacy organization, Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) is a skills discovery and development targeting untapped talent among the youth in different urban communities in Kenya, starting with Kibera.

    “Talent is universal but opportunities are not. Tambua is creating unique opportunities for the youth and giving them a chance to succeed,” says Kennedy Odede, CEO of SHOFCO.

    Speaking during the launch of the platform, Odede said that there was an overwhelming response to a call sent out in August 2023 for artists based in Kibera to register for the event.

    “During the showcase held at the SHOFCO School for Girls Auditorium, we saw 25 acts representing the entire spectrum of music, from singers and rappers to MCs, DJs and dancers and even paint artists.”

    Each of the artists was allocated 3 minutes for a performance before a jury consisting of respected music industry professionals. They were evaluated on musical quality, songwriting, authenticity, style, confidence, stage presence, and their ability to connect with the audience.

    The top three outstanding acts were then promised career-changing opportunities including being mentored by some of the most successful music producers in the country. The mentors include Grammy-nominated group Jabali Afrika, internationally renowned rapper Octopizzo, who grew up in the area where SHOFCO is located, and Tabu Osusa, Executive Director & Founder Ketebul Music.

    The winners will be guided on shaping their musical identity, writing and production, video direction and building a sustainable brand.

    The event also featured influential personalities who shared their experiences with the young artists and offered professional and personal insights on career, determination, discipline and success.

    The special guests for the event were Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba, John Andrews, General Manager, Universal Music Kenya, the iconic motor rally driver Patrick Njiru, Jahmby “Fyah Mummah” Koikai, broadcaster and MC, and Raphael Obonyo, convener of the Youth Congress and singer, actor and broadcaster Anto Neosoul.