Kenya’s rising youth leadership profile took centre stage in Lagos after 23-year-old Rejoice Waithera clinched the top honour at the Future Africa Leaders Awards, held on January 1 at Omnia Towers.
Waithera emerged as the winner of the prestigious Star Prize, the highest recognition of the ceremony, placing her among Africa’s most outstanding young leaders driving meaningful change within their communities.
The awards ceremony, attended by influential leaders and young change-makers from across the continent, featured former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka as high-profile guests.
The two leaders took part in an interactive dialogue session with award winners and alumni, drawing on their decades of public service to encourage young Africans to pursue leadership grounded in purpose, resilience, and integrity.
Uhuru and Kalonzo urged participants to overcome self-doubt, remain anchored in strong values, and recognise that impactful leadership often begins with small, deliberate actions. They emphasised that background or circumstance should never limit one’s ability to influence positive change.
Discussions at the forum focused on leadership as a journey of service rather than status, highlighting the importance of self-belief, consistency, and commitment to societal transformation.
The Future Africa Leaders Awards, founded by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, aim to identify, nurture, and celebrate young Africans demonstrating vision, innovation, and a commitment to social impact. The programme supports initiatives addressing challenges in community development, entrepreneurship, governance, and social transformation.
Organisers said the awards are designed to build a continent-wide network of principled leaders equipped with practical solutions for Africa’s future. Previous recipients have gone on to scale community projects and contribute to policy conversations in their countries.
Waithera’s Star Prize win further spotlights Kenya’s growing influence in continental youth leadership spaces and underscores the critical role young people continue to play in shaping Africa’s development narrative.
The Lagos forum concluded with a call for sustained mentorship, cross-border collaboration, and increased investment in youth-led initiatives as Africa navigates complex economic, social, and governance challenges.
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