Philip Thigo among three Kenyans honoured at Mozilla's Rise25 Awards

This prestigious award recognizes individuals who are leading the next wave of Artificial Intelligence (AI), emphasizing philanthropy, collective power, and open-source principles to ensure that AI remains responsible, trustworthy, inclusive, and centred around human dignity. The ceremony took place on Tuesday, August 13, at the Convention Centre in Dublin, Ireland.

Thigo is one of three Kenyans recognized in this year’s cohort, which also includes six Africans — two from South Africa and one from Senegal.

Thigo was selected under the Advocates category, which acknowledges policymakers, activists, and thinkers dedicated to the ethical, inclusive, and transparent development of AI. This category also honours those who translate complex AI concepts for the broader public, including journalists, content creators, and cultural commentators.

In his acceptance speech, Thigo expressed gratitude to Mozilla for highlighting the essential work of public sector champions.

"Thank you, Mozilla, for this incredible honor, shining a light on the often thankless work of public sector champions who tirelessly strive to make policies more responsive, with real implications for people’s lives," Thigo said.

The second Kenyan honoree, Kathleen Siminyu, was recognized under the Builders Category. This group includes engineers and data scientists dedicated to developing AI’s open-source language infrastructure, ensuring AI's security, accessibility, and reliability.

Angela Lungati, the third Kenyan honoree, was recognized under the Change Agents category. This category celebrates those who diversify AI, bringing varied community voices into the tech space and ensuring technology serves and represents everyone, especially those historically excluded from the tech narrative.

"Receiving the award is an honor and i’m appreciative of the recognition of the important role technology and AI can play in impacting the lives of disenfranchised communities of we ensure that it is accessible to everyone," said Angela.

Mark Surman, President of Mozilla, highlighted the importance of collaboration and diverse perspectives in innovation.

“At Mozilla, we believe the most groundbreaking innovations arise when people of all kinds of backgrounds come together to collaborate and openly trade ideas," said Surman.

The Rise25 Awards build upon the success of last year's event held in Berlin, Germany, showcasing a vision for a future trustworthy Internet.

This year’s finalists were selected from hundreds of nominees across five categories: Advocates, Builders, Change Agents, Open Champions, and Community Catalysts, with five winners chosen for each category. These categories collectively honor those guiding AI towards a responsible future, ensuring it remains a force for societal good.

Thigo's recognition is a testament to his unwavering commitment to ensuring AI development is inclusive and serves the broader global community.