Rising above the tides to global recognition: Senator Karanja among 100 honoured

 

Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja. [File, Standard]

Despite recent legal and business challenges, Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has earned international recognition after being named among 100 distinguished Africans honoured for their outstanding contributions to society, leadership and economic transformation.

Karanja, the founder of Keroche Breweries, received the 2026 Honorary Doctorate of Excellence in Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship during the Third Edition of the Honorary Doctorate Degree Awards Conferment Programme held in Kigali, Rwanda.

The award recognises her contribution to business, leadership, women's empowerment and Africa's economic development.

Speaking during the ceremony, University of Kigali Vice-Chancellor Prof. George Kimathi said the awardees shared a common trait — a demonstrated commitment to improving African society and advancing the welfare of its people.

"The individuals being recognised today have shown dedication to strengthening institutions, promoting economic growth, advancing education, expanding opportunities, supporting innovation and championing good governance," said Prof. Kimathi.

"We are not celebrating people because they are powerful. We are celebrating them because they have chosen to use their influence in the service of others. To the hundred legendary Africans being recognised today, congratulations. You have built institutions and led through conditions that would have stopped many others."

Prof. Kimathi challenged the honourees to embrace mentorship and create opportunities for young people.

He urged them to open boardroom doors to aspiring leaders, support scholarship programmes for underprivileged students and establish investment funds to assist entrepreneurs who struggle to access financing from traditional institutions.

Karanja was celebrated for her entrepreneurial journey and for creating employment opportunities through Keroche Breweries, Kenya's first major locally owned brewery.

Addressing guests after receiving the award, Karanja reflected on the challenges she faced while building the company from the ground up.

She said building a competitive business in Africa requires navigating an environment where capital is limited, infrastructure remains inadequate and market conditions constantly change.

"If building in Africa is difficult, doing it as an African woman means breaking through walls of concrete. You are often forced to operate in male-dominated spaces that were never designed to accommodate a woman's voice, power or ambition," she said.

Karanja noted that women entrepreneurs are frequently required to prove their worth repeatedly in boardrooms and justify their place at decision-making tables.

She said Keroche Breweries was established not only as a business venture but also as a challenge to an industry monopoly that had dominated the market for decades.

"When Keroche was founded in 1997 as Kenya's first major locally owned brewery, we were not merely launching a manufacturing enterprise. We were challenging the status quo," she said.

"We were told that a local company, let alone one led by a Kenyan woman, could never drive industrial growth, create thousands of jobs or compete with global standards."

Karanja recalled numerous setbacks throughout her entrepreneurial journey, including limited resources, bureaucratic obstacles and political challenges.

"The world did not roll out a red carpet for us. It baptised us with fire," she said.

"I know the suffocating weight of limited resources. I know the frustration of watching your vision hindered by red tape and threatened by forces beyond your control. There were moments when the sacrifices felt overwhelming."

She described entrepreneurship as the ability to persist despite fear and uncertainty.

"Entrepreneurship is not the absence of fear. It is the stubborn refusal to give up. It requires extraordinary grit and resilience," she said.

Karanja said the success of Keroche demonstrates that African enterprises can compete globally and achieve world-class standards.

She reaffirmed her commitment to championing devolution, accountability, value addition, industrialisation and African self-reliance.

"My mission remains unchanged. I am still fighting for Africa's industrial revolution," she said.

She added that the award belongs not only to her but also to the entrepreneurs, employees, partners and supporters who have walked the journey with her.

The recognition follows a formal communication she received in April informing her that she had been selected for the honour through an academic partnership with HonorCrest Institute International, Canada.

In a communication signed by Dr Baroness Paulette Kporo, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the awards programme, the council cited Karanja's leadership record and her impact on business and social transformation.

The council noted that the award is reserved for leaders whose work demonstrates measurable impact and whose influence extends beyond personal success to creating meaningful change in society.

The selection process is highly competitive, with only a limited number of recipients chosen each year to preserve the prestige of the award.

Tributes poured in during the ceremony, with many speakers praising Karanja's resilience and her role in opening opportunities for women in business.