Rare UN Mandela Prize lifts hope in Kibera as slum claims global honour

Kibera residents celebrate Dr Kennedy Odede's win of the 2025 Nelson Mandela Prize.[Winfrey Owino, Standard]

Kibera slum has earned a place on the global stage after one of its residents won the 2025 Nelson Mandela Prize, one of the United Nations' highest honours awarded every five years.

Residents poured into the streets on July 20, dancing and singing as they celebrated the award to Dr Kennedy Odede, who grew up in Kibera before founding the aid organisation Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO).

"This award belongs to all of you. The Mandela Prize is not about me; it is about the power of our people and the strength in our struggles," noted Odede.

The United Nations established the Nelson Mandela Prize in 2015 to honour individuals who dedicate their lives to serving humanity and promoting reconciliation and human rights.

Odede was recognised for grassroots work with SHOFCO, which provides clean water, healthcare, education and economic opportunities in informal settlements across Kenya.

During the ceremony in New York, he called for global investment in slum communities, explaining that many remain excluded from development.

"In many communities like Kibera, the gates of opportunity remain narrow. We are not waiting for permission to belong to the future we are building," observed Odede.

Anne Njeri, a resident of Kibera, explained that SHOFCO's work has changed lives in the settlement.

"Because of SHOFCO, my daughter is in school and dreams of becoming a doctor. Odede has lifted us all," noted Njeri.

John Otieno, a youth leader in Kibera, added that Odede's global recognition has inspired young people in the settlement to pursue bigger dreams.

"To see someone from our community stand on a world stage and receive the Mandela Prize tells us that we can achieve anything," explained Otieno.

Former Sarang'ombe MCA Owino Kotieno observed that the recognition was a victory for slum communities across the country.

"This is a victory not just for Kennedy but for every slum community in Kenya. He embodies the spirit of Mandela: humble and bold," added Kotieno.