Kennedy Odede Becomes First Kenyan to Win Prestigious UN Nelson Mandela Prize

Kennedy Odede, the founder and CEO of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), has been awarded the 2025 Nelson Mandela Prize in recognition of his community-led development work in Kenya.

The award ceremony took place at the UN General Assembly Hall in New York on Friday, July 18, as part of this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day.

The Nelson Mandela Prize is awarded every five years to one man and one woman whose work embodies the legacy of Nelson Mandela, including his commitment to reconciliation, social justice, and grassroots leadership. Odede becomes the first Kenyan man to receive the award.

In Kenya, Odede is a household name thanks to his organisation, Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), which has transformed the lives of thousands of people across the country. What began as a small effort to uplift his community has evolved to become a beacon of hope for many in Kenya’s informal settlements.

A collage of philanthropist Kennedy Odede, pauses for a photo and the 2025 Nelson Mandela Prize.

Photo

Kenyans.co.ke/Flickr

Odede won the award alongside Brenda Reynolds, a Status Treaty member of the Fishing Lake Saulteaux First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. Reynolds has dedicated decades to advancing Indigenous rights, promoting mental health, and championing trauma-informed care, according to the UN.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who presented the award, described Odede as a long-time community activist whose organisation unites groups across Kenya.

“The organisation he founded now reaches 2.4 million people each year with essential services from education to water,” said Guterres.

“As the United Nations celebrates 80 years, Nelson Mandela’s legacy of reconciliation and transformation continues to inspire and drive us,” he added.

Odede, who at the time of the award had travelled to Botswana, revealed that he was pleasantly surprised, stating that the prize would go a long way in cementing his community development efforts. 

”I’m truly humbled! When the winners were announced, I had travelled to Botswana, deep in the Okavango Delta—no internet, no phone signal. When I got back later, my phone was blowing up—calls, messages, and congratulatory messages! “What is happening?” I called to confirm the news.” Odede told Africa Renewal. 

”I was pleasantly surprised! Mandela is someone I admired deeply. For the UN to recognise an organisation like SHOFCO—it’s amazing! The Mandela Prize is awarded every five years, so being a recipient is no joke! For us it is a big deal, and it gives hope to other community organisations across Africa that their work matters.”

Having lived in Kenya’s Kibera Slum for 23 years, Odede was subjected to the harsh reality of street life at age 10 before rising to global recognition, having also been named one of TIME magazine’s 2024 100 Most Influential People.

His story began with a small but significant gesture: saving part of his wages, when he worked in a factory, to buy a football and bring his neighbours together. That simple act laid the foundation for SHOFCO, which now operates in 68 locations across Kenya, delivering essential services to over 2.4 million people every year.

Kennedy Odede pictured in Kibra, Nairobi.

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