From Kibera to global icon: Kennedy Odede receives 2025 UN Mandela award
Kennedy Odede, the founder and CEO of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), a Kenyan grassroots movement providing life-changing services to the urban poor, has finally received his prestigious 2025 UN Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize.
Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Ekitela Lokaale, on Friday, July 18, 2025, shared news of Odede’s feat, stating that the award was presented by UN Secretary General António Guterres.
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“The award, which was presented by the UN Secretary General during commemoration of the UN Nelson Mandela International Day at the General Assembly today, recognizes Odede’s work of promoting Nelson Mandela’s legacy of peace, dignity, social justice and equality through SHOFCO’s work of empowering communities and individuals in Kenya,” Lokaale’s statement read in part.
Odede was equally celebrated by the Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Korir Sing’Oei.
“Congratulations @KennedyOdede for this remarkable recognition,” the PS wrote.
Winning
The news of his winning was first released on May 29, 2025, and the award-giving ceremony was scheduled for Friday, July 18, 2025, as part of the annual commemoration marking Nelson Mandela International Day.
His journey began with a small act: saving his meagre factory earnings to buy a soccer ball and bring his community together. This gave birth to SHOFCO, which now operates in 68 locations across Kenya, empowering local groups and delivering vital services to over 2.4 million people every year.
Odede is also a New York Times bestselling co-author and holds roles with USAID, the World Economic Forum, the Obama Foundation, and the Clinton Global Initiative.
SHOFCO was also recognised with the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour award in 2021.
Reaction to winning
In an interview with UN after collecting his award, Odede revealed that the time the winners were announced he did not have phone network as he had travelled to Botswana deep in the Okavango Delta.
” 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 on, my phone was blowing up—calls, messages, congratulatory messages! “What is happening?” I called to confirm the news,” Odede narrated.
“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,” he added.
He also recalled his journey starting from Kibera and how he did not allow slum life to shape his future but use that as a fuel for change in that community.
“I grew up in Kibera slums in Nairobi. It was a very tough life. At some point, I became homeless—living on the streets and eating from garbage bins. I lost hope and became very angry. It looked like I had no future. I was looking for inspiration—great men and women who could inspire me,” Odede narrated.
“So, I started SHOFCO when I was 15 with just a soccer ball — no money, nothing. I had that kind of spirit that said: “You have to start. You have to do something.“
“So, we were playing soccer, helping one another, cleaning the streets, doing short skits by the roadside, keeping our girls safe, talking about GBV and HIV/AIDS. That’s how we built what I call a community.”
