RMS Journalist Anne Nyathira, Eric Omondi, AMREF Health CEO Gitahi among nominees for 2024 NGO Awards

Royal Media Services journalist Anne Nyathira is among five reporters who have been nominated for the Best Journalist in Coverage of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) category at the inaugural NGO Awards 2024.

Organized by the Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority (PBORA) and Awesome Concepts Limited, the awards aim to recognize exceptional individuals and organizations that are driving and advocating environmental and societal change in Kenya.

The ceremony will be held on November 29, 2024, at Emara Ole Sereni in Nairobi, with nominees recognized for their significant contributions in various categories, ranging from Celebrity Champion of the Year, CEO of the Year, NGO of the Year, Best in Women and Gender Inclusion and Best in Governance and Healthcare, among others.

Other nominees in the Best Journalist category include Hellen Shikanda from Daily Nation, Suleiman Yeri from The Standard, Angela Oketch from Nation.Africa, and Wahome Ngatia from Civilsocieties.org.

“NGOs complement the government’s efforts to better lives of citizens and the nominees are a beacon of hope, showing how innovation and commitment can overcome the most challenging issues of our time,” said PBORA’s Acting Director General Lindon Otieno in a statement.

“By celebrating these dedicated organizations, we inspire further action and amplify the life-changing work happening across communities," added Awesome Concepts' Leonard Ndungu.

In the Celebrity Champion of the Year category, nominees include comedian-turned-activist Eric Omondi, Affecto Foundation founder Ndungu Nyoro, Inua Dada Foundation founder Janet Mbugua, musician Karangu Muraya, and TikToker Baba Talisha.

AMREF Health Africa's Dr. Githinji Gitahi, SHOFCO's Kennedy Odede, FAWEK's Jeanette Valeria, Wildlife Direct's Dr. Paul Kahumba, and Food for Education's Wawira Njiru have also been shortlisted for the CEO of the Year award.

Nominees for the NGO of the Year Award include Shining Hope for Community (SHOFCO), Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), Boma, Center for International Health Education and Biosecurity (CIHEB) and Food for Education.

For the Best in Women and Gender Inclusion category, nominees include FAWE Kenya, Action Aid Kenya, Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya, Boma and Dandelion Africa.

"The NGO Awards platform, ngosawards.com, is now open for public voting. Individuals can view the nominees and vote for the organization or leader that, in their view, has had the most meaningful impact. Voting is online and will remain open until November 24th 2024. Four categories were dropped due to lack of quality applications," the organisers added.