Five Kenyans named among 40 African visionaries

Five Kenyans have been named among 40 most visionary individuals on the continent.

The five included Joe Kariuki, a renowned businessman and philanthropist and founder of the African Women and Beyond initiative, Boniface Mwangi, an award winning photo journalist and civil rights activist, Prof. PLO Lumumba, an academic and Director of the Kenya school of law, Eric Kinoti, an entrepreneur and Nelson Oduma, founder and president of the International Youth Network Against Corruption.

The list compiled by a popular Nigerian website also includes heads of state, prominent businessmen, civil rights activists and other prominent African leaders.

Speaking to Joe Kariuki soon after the announcement, he expressed his joy at being recognised for his efforts saying: “I started the African Women and Beyond initiative about three months ago and I am honoured to be named in this list,” he said.

“I invited the Nigerians to see the work we do and a few weeks later I realised I have been recognised for my work. However, here in Kenya we seem more interested in politics and don’t recognise the efforts people are making to better the society,” he said.

He expressed optimism that his Amsha Mama initiative which currently reaches about 100,000 women will grow to reach about 1 million women, adding that his aim is to lift women from one level to another.

Another young Kenyan mentioned in the list was Boniface Mwangi, a civil rights activist that has made his voice heard fighting for the ‘little man’ in society.

Mr Mwangi is also a prominent photojournalist, having previously won the CNN photo journalist of the year award that catapulted him to international recognition.

Eric Kinoti, a young Kenyan entrepreneur who is best known for being founder and CEO of Shade Systems and being named in the top 30 under 30 list by Forbes.

Speaking to Citizen Digital in the past, Kinoti said that his dream and vision for Shade Systems was to take it international and to build a brand that will outlast him.

“I want to go regional. I want to have Shade Systems East Africa, Uganda, Tanzania and so on. I also want to venture into solar energy,” he said.

Kinoti is also known for initiating mentorship programmes for the youth.

Another activist who made the list was Nelson Oduma whose organisation is a network of youths from across the world with aim of of fighting corruption and bad governance. The network currently has over 100,000 members from all across the world.

Prof. PLO Lumumba, an academic and Director of the Kenya School of Law also made it into the list. He was once at the helm of the anti graft body and is one of the most respected legal minds in the country.

Other prominent Africans who made the list were Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, an award-winning Nigerian author, Aliko Dangote, famed Nigerian businessman and richest man in Africa according to Forbes Magazine, Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli and South African political activist Julius Malema among others.