Institute of African Royalty awards Kenyans for charity work
Ahadi Trust Kenya Executive Director Stanley Kamau (left) and Dr Jennifer Riria, Echo Network Africa CEO, display the awards they were given by the Institute of African Royalty for their charity work, on August 15, 2018. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Dr Kamau was honoured for his contribution in education, health, water and sanitation, eradication of poverty and food security.
- Dr Riria is the founding member of Kenya Women Holding and Kenya Women Finance Trust Microfinance Bank.
Institute of African Royalty (IAR) recently feted two Kenyans for their outstanding contribution to the African development agenda.
Speaking at the conferring event that was attended by royals from countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda and Liberia, the institute's President Zolani Mkiva said they were impressed with the special focus on rural development and the need for critical infrastructural investment championed by Ahadi Trust Kenya Executive Director Stanley Kamau and Dr Jennifer Riria, CEO Echo Network Africa.
“We are immensely pleased with the work of these two Kenyans who have greatly sacrificed their time and resources to become the change agents that Africa desires,” he said on August 15.
INVESTMENT
Dr Kamau, popularly known as “doctor jiggers” for his fight against the parasitic insect, termed the acknowledgment as a motivation and a reminder of how much work there still remains to be done.
“Although we don’t work to get recognised, it is always humbling when someone out there appreciates what we do and is willing to partner with us or serve as a volunteer,” he said, emphasising on the importance of social investments.
“Material things waste away but what you invest in people lasts for a lifetime. It’s not all about money. Giving another person your time and a listening ear counts,” he said.
Dr Kamau was honoured for his contribution in education, health, water and sanitation, eradication of poverty and food security.
EDUCATION
According to him, an impoverished society is susceptible to issues such as jigger manifestation.
As such, Ahadi Trust Kenya runs different livelihood projects such as banana farming, beekeeping and poultry farming.
The non-profitable organisation runs different initiatives such as ambulance mashinani, provision of shoes to school-going children, sanitary towels to adolescent girls and construction of boreholes in different learning institutions.
Dr Riria was honoured for her role in transforming the lives of women and their families.
She is the founding member of Kenya Women Holding and Kenya Women Finance Trust Microfinance Bank.
