Anna Qabale Duba
Anna Qabale Duba was named the World's Best Nurse in May, beating 24,000 nominated nurses worldwide to win the Sh26 million Aster Guardian Global Nursing Award in Dubai. She is no stranger to breaking barriers, as the feted nurse was Miss Kenya in 2013 and was also the first person in her village in Marsabit to graduate from college, the only member of her family of 19 children to do so, having escaped forced marriage at 14. She founded Qabale Duba Foundation as a vehicle to advocate for female equality and education.
Judy Kihumba
Judy Kihumba is a sign language interpreter and an advocate of maternal mental health and wellness of deaf nursing mums. She was who was the only person from East Africa named in BBC's 100 Women 2022, a list of inspiring and influential women from around the world. She was named alongside women such as Grammy-winning US singer Billie Eillish and Indian actress Priyanka Chopra. Kihumba, the founder of Talking Hands, Listening Eyes on Postpartum Depression (THLEP), which helps women with impaired hearing in the journey of motherhood and helps break the silence of postpartum depression.
Judith Kiragu
Judith Kiragu, 56, became the first Kenyan woman to receive the Most Outstanding Chess Organiser Award from the International Chess Federation (FIDE), given to recognise personalities who have made a good contribution towards chess as a sport.
Nikita Kering'
Nikita Kering', 20, was recently featured on the New York Times Square billboard in the US by Spotify as the app's Equal Program Ambassador for the month of November. Her song, 'Ex' has seen huge success and she performed it at BBC 1Xtra, a live performance with the full complement of the BBC Philharmonic orchestra. She was nominated for The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2022 edition in the category of Best Female Artist in East Africa, which will be held in January 2023.
Angella Okutoyi
Angella Okutoyi, 18, is a professional tennis player who became the first Kenyan to win a girls' junior singles Grand Slam match when she won at the 2022 Australian open. She is the first Kenyan in the world to progress to the third round in a Grand Slam. She also won the girls' doubles title at the 2022 Wimbledon championships. OKutoyi won the ITF/CAT East African Junior championship under-14 girls' doubles in 2017, the 2018 Kenya Open under-14 and under-18 doubles as well as the 2020 ITF East African Junior Championship doubles.