By EAJ Reporter
Kenyan humanitarian and community health promoter Dr Stanley Kamau has been honoured for his long-standing service to vulnerable communities, receiving a Community Service Honour at the 2026 100 Africa Most Influential Persons Awards in Kigali, Rwanda.
Dr Kamau was recognised during a ceremony held at M Hotel on Friday, September 25, alongside personalities from across Africa whose professional and community contributions have earned them recognition under the awards programme.
The honour recognises his years of work supporting communities facing social and health challenges, particularly vulnerable children and families.
Dr Kamau is widely known for his campaign against jigger infestation, a cause that grew from his childhood experience of the disease in his village in Murang’a County into a wider community initiative.
His work has since expanded to education, child welfare and programmes supporting disadvantaged families. Through Ahadi Kenya Trust, recent interventions have included providing shoes and sanitary products to schoolchildren to promote their health, dignity and continued participation in education.
While accepting the honour, Dr Kamau thanked the Government of Kenya for its support and cooperation in initiatives targeting communities in need. He also acknowledged the contribution of partners and supporters who have helped extend the reach of the programmes.
His public service extends to the health sector, where he serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Kenyatta National Hospital and chairs its Audit Board Committee. He has also been involved in business and community development initiatives.
The Kigali ceremony brought together personalities from different African countries and sectors. Among those recognised in the 2026 edition were Tanzanian tourism entrepreneur and philanthropist Zainab Ansell, who received a Certificate of Honour, and Nigerian health-sector professional Dr Mories Atoki.
Ansell, the founder of Zara Tanzania Adventures and Zara Tanzania Charity, was recognised for her work in tourism, hospitality and community support, while Atoki has focused on healthcare, partnerships and sustainable development.
The 2026 awardees join a list of African professionals recognised through previous editions of the programme. Ethiopian technology entrepreneur Zekarias Afework was among the 100 awardees in 2024 for his work with technology company Tech 5.
For Dr Kamau, the Kigali honour marks another milestone in a journey that began at community level and has expanded into health, education and social support.
He has previously maintained that recognition was never the objective of his work, but rather a by-product of serving communities. His focus has remained on responding to people’s needs and working with partners to provide practical assistance to those facing hardship.
The latest honour recognises that work while also highlighting the role of partners, supporters and communities who have contributed to the initiatives over the years.
