Mandela Prize: Odede receives heroes’ welcome on return from UN

Cheers echoed through the streets of Kibera on Sunday as Dr. Kennedy Odede, the founder and CEO of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), received a rousing heroes’ welcome upon returning from the United Nations in New York, where he was awarded the 2025 Nelson Mandela Prize.

Thousands of residents turned out in celebration, dancing, and singing in honor of one of their own.

Odede, who grew up in the very hood where the celebration was held, was visibly moved as he addressed the crowd.

“This award belongs to all of you. The Mandela Prize is not about me, it’s about the power of our people, the strength in our struggles, and the hope that refuses to die even in the most difficult conditions,” he said.

The Nelson Mandela Prize is one of the UN’s highest honors, awarded every five years to individuals who have dedicated their lives to the service of humanity.

Dr. Odede was recognized for his grassroots leadership and transformational work with SHOFCO, which provides clean water, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment to residents of urban slums in Kenya.

At the UN ceremony, Odede called for inclusive development and global investment in informal settlements.

“In so many communities like Kibera, the gates of opportunity remain narrow. But at SHOFCO, we are not waiting for permission to belong to the future we are building. We are demonstrating that transformative leadership emerges precisely from the places the world overlooks — not just to walk through existing gates, but to widen them for others,” he stated in his speech at the UN.

Back in Kibera, Odede’s recognition sparked a wave of pride and inspiration. Among the crowd were countless beneficiaries of SHOFCO’s programs who spoke passionately about how Odede’s leadership has changed their lives.

“Because of SHOFCO, my daughter is in school and dreams of becoming a doctor. Odede didn’t forget where he came from. He lifted us all,” Anne Njeri, a resident of Kibera.

John Otieno, a Kibera youth leader, shared: “To see someone from our community stand on a world stage and receive the Mandela Prize, it tells us we can achieve anything.”

Local leaders praised Odede for staying true to his roots while making a global impact.

“This is a victory not just for Kennedy but for every slum community in Kenya. He represents the spirit of Mandela, humble, bold, and deeply committed to justice,” Owino Kotieno, former Sarang’ombe Member of County Assembly (MCA).

Grace Akoth, a community woman leader also praised Dr. Odede saying he has changed the lives of many in Kibera and across Kenya.

“This moment proves that change doesn’t come from above. It starts right here, with people like Odede who refuse to accept that poverty is destiny,” she said.

Dr. Odede further emphasized that the work was far from over.

“The Mandela Prize is not the end of the journey, it’s a call to do even more. Let us build communities where no child drinks dirty water, where no woman gives birth without care, and where no youth is forgotten,” he said.

Established by the United Nations in 2014, the Nelson Mandela Prize recognizes individuals who have dedicated their lives to the service of humanity, in the spirit of Nelson Mandela’s legacy of reconciliation, peace, and social justice.

The prize is awarded once every five years to two recipients, one female and one male, who have made outstanding contributions at the grassroots level.