Wawira Njiru wins 2026 German Africa Prize
By Valerian Khakayi, August 19, 2026Kenyan social innovator and nutritionist Wawira Njiru has been named the recipient of the 2026 German Africa Prize for her work transforming school feeding through her organisation, Food4Education.
The German Africa Foundation (DAS) on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, announced Njiru as the Kenyan laureate, recognising her approach to using school feeding to support local value creation, job creation and economic development.
“The #GermanAfricaPrize2026 goes to @WawiraNjiru from #Kenya. The DAS recognises Njiru’s pioneering approach to reimagining school feeding with @Food4Education as a driver of local value creation, job creation and economic development,” DAS announced.
Reacting to the recognition, Njiru said she was honoured to receive the award and highlighted Food4Education’s growth over the past 14 years.
“Honoured to receive the 2026 German Africa Prize from the German Africa Foundation. Looking forward to Berlin later this year, 14 years and 230M meals later, Food4Education is showing that African solutions can be built at scale, by Africans, for Africa, with lessons for the world,” Njiru said.
The German Africa Foundation said Njiru’s work demonstrates how school feeding can go beyond providing meals to children by connecting food security with local economic participation and strengthening value chains.
The organisation noted that Food4Education works with smallholder farmers and communities while creating jobs and supporting locally driven food production.
“Wawira Njiru demonstrates that school feeding can be much more than simply providing meals. With Food4Education, she has created a system that reaches children, involves families and strengthens local economic cycles. Her idea and her commitment have led to an African solution to a global challenge,” explains Claus Stäcker, President of the Jury of the German Africa Prize and Director Programmes for Africa at Deutsche Welle.
About the award
The German Africa Prize is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in areas including sustainable development, innovation, democracy, peace and human rights.
Njiru will receive the award at a ceremony scheduled for November 4, 2026, in Berlin, Germany.
What is Food4Education
Food4Education, which Njiru founded in 2012, works with families, schools, smallholder farmers and governments to provide school meals while strengthening local food systems and creating economic opportunities.
The organisation has grown from providing meals to 25 children to serving millions of meals through its school feeding programmes in Kenya.