The Voice Achievers Award 2024 honours Dr. Idah Odinga, Governor Ndeti, Mayor Lowe, Archbishop Kibarabara; Dr. Bishiop Pius & Lucy Muiru among others in Nairobi, Kenya

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Outstanding Africans and friends of Africa were among the 34 persons recognized and decorated with this year’s the Voice Achievers Award 2024 to mark the 13th edition of the achievers award and the 25th anniversary of the Voice news magazine.

The award is in appreciation of the contributions of these individuals to the advancement of Africa in various fields of human endeavours.0

Mama Idah Odinga, an educationalist of international repute and a successful businesswoman and regarded a mother figure in the nation of Kenya was recognized with the ‘Iconic Woman Leadership Award’ by the Pan-African magazine, while Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti was celebrated as “Governor of the Year” at the awards gala night that also celebrated  was Governor Gladys Wanga of Homabay County (Africa Leadership Excellence Award).

well as various African fashion designers and music artistes, led by Kenyan designer Hellen Tolbert (African Fashion Promoter Award) and musician Jalimadi Kanuteh of The Gambia (Africa Entertainment Award).

Other recipients included Archbishop Dr. Jerry Kibarabara (Africa Life Time Achievers Award) and  Bishop Dr. Pius Muiru (Africa Spiritual Leadership Award), and Rev. Amb. Lucy Muiru (Africa Heroine Award)

Among the award recipients on Friday night were Olympic track medallists Faith Kipyegon (Africa Trailblazer Award), Beatrice Chebet (Sportswoman of the Year) and world 800 metres record holder and two-time Olympic champion David Rudisha (Africa Legendary Sports Award).

At the recent Paris Olympic Games, Kipyegon won gold in the 1,500 metres to become the first athlete – male or female – to win three, back-to-back gold medals over the distance, a feat she achieved in Rio de Janeiro (2016), Tokyo (2020) and Paris 2024.

Chebet won double gold in Paris in the 5,000m and 10,000m races and is also a world cross country champion.

“I’m really grateful for the award and I’m sorry I could not join you tonight as I have had a busy Olympic schedule and I’m also still preparing for other competitions,” Kipyegon said in a video message to the awards gala held at Nairobi’s Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel.

Chebet and Rudisha also sent their messages.

“Thank you to the Achievers Awards for considering me. I’d have loved to be with you for the ceremony but I have to go back top training to focus on a few races that I have remaining this season… I hope to see you next year,” Chebet said.

Rudisha also passed his goodwill message: “My apologies as it has been a tough week with travels around the Olympics and back… My apologies as I cannot attend the awards ceremony in person.”

Elias Makori, a three-time Kenya Sports Journalist of the Year award winner and 2012 World Athletics Journalist of the Year, received the awards on behalf of the three athletes and received his own award as Africa Sports Personality of the year having put in more 3 decades into sporting reporting and editing a national newspaper – The Nation in Kenya. He dedicated his own award to African athletes.

“There are only two main reasons a national anthem is played on foreign land – for a visiting Head of State, and to celebrate a gold medal at a major competition. Our athletes had the Kenyan national anthem played at the Paris Olympic Games and this was a huge honour!,” Makori said at the ceremony.

“In Paris, Africa won 11 gold medals and 12 African nations won 43 medals in total, with Kenya leading the way with four gold medals and 11 medals in total – I dedicate my awards to our African athletes who always make us proud and who give us journalists something positive to write about.

“I’d like to thank Pastor Elvis Iruh and the organizing team of the ‘Voice Achievers Awards’ for appreciating the role we journalists play, and I also thank the Nation Media Group for providing me with the impeccable platform to nurture and perfect my sports journalism,” Makori, also named Africa Boxing Journalist of the Year for 2023 by the International Boxing Association and a previous winner at the ‘Voice Achievers Awards’, added.

Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayor of The Gambia capital Banjul was named ‘African Woman of the Year for 2024’ by Netherlands-based ‘The Voice’ magazine, organisers of the ‘Voice Achievers Awards’.

In her victory speech, she took the audience through her struggles as a woman to gain elective position in The Gambia.

“It is very difficult to take leadership in Africa if you are a woman, and that’s the reality. This award is not for me, it’s for the Gambian woman,” she said after receiving her award from Pastor Ndubuisi Elvis Iruh, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of ‘The Voice’ magazine and chairman of the Voice Achievers Award Committee.

“Her unwavering allegiance and dedication to her country, The Gambia is unequalled and while receiving this award nomination, she informed the organisers that she is most humbled for the recognition and she dedicates the award to the good people of  Banjul and the Gambia in general who makes her to work hard and they appreciate her contribution to see Gambia among the league of progressive countries in Africa,” organisers said of the Mayor.

The list of award winners at the ‘Voice Achievers Awards’ 2024:
– Archbishop Dr. Jerry Kibarabara (Africa Life Time Achievers Award);
– Mama Ida Odinga (Iconic Woman Leadership Award);
– Bishop Dr. Pius Muiru (Africa Spiritual Leadership Award);
– Rev. Ambassador Lucy Muiru (Africa Heroine Award)
– Her Excellency, Governor Gladys Wanga, Homa Bay County (Africa Leadership Excellence Award);
– Her Excellency, Governor Hon. Wavinya Ndeti, Machakos County (Africa Governor Award 2024);
– Lord Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayor of Banjul, The Gambia (Africa Woman of the Year 2024);
– Dr. Silpah Owich (Excellence Award for Entrepreneurship);
– Dr Johnny Sei-Hoe Hon MH (Excellence Award for Global Relations);
– Rev. Nicky Chakwera (Africa Inspirational Award);
– Zainab Kessington Momoh (Posthumous Award for Humanitarian Excellence);
– Dr. Amakove Wala (Africa Health Care Award);
– Evans Andrew (Diaspora Man of Excellence Award);
– Steffi Fernandes (Diaspora Woman of Excellence Award);
– Hon. Kevin Kinengo Katisya (Africa Youth Service Award);
– Eyram Akua Olympio (Fashion Designer of the Year 2024);
– Hon. Stephen Ochieng Nyandiare (Africa Business Excellence Award);
– Rob Conradi – Pamoja Kenya (Africa Special Recognition Award);
– Hellen Tolbert (Africa Fashion Promoter Award);
– Dr. Aghan Joshua Oscar (Excellence Award in Technology & Innovation);
– Dr. Joseph Nyaga Njagi (Africa Medical Excellence Award);
– David Rudisha (Legendary Sports Award);
– Dorothy Attema (Africa Writer of the Year Award);
– Ndungu Nyoro (Affecto Foundation Kenya Africa Foundation Award);
– Jalimadi Kanuteh (Africa Entertainment Award);
– Josaine Umulinga (Africa Courageous Award);
– Prince Kudakwashe Bosha (Africa Motivational Award);
– Elias Makori Obanyi (Africa Media Personality Award);
– Faith Kipyegon (Africa Trailblazer Award);
– Beatrice Chebet (Sports Woman of the Year Award)
– Her Excellency, Shaikha Dr. Fatimah Tagwai Aji, FMCA (Iconic Woman Leadership Award);
-His Excellency, Ambassador Tareq Ziad al Saif (Humanitarian Excellence Award);

Goodwill Ambassador Awards:
– Her Royal Highness, Queen Mother Deli Matsebula (The Voice Goodwill Ambassador);
– Dr. Maxwel Okoth (The Voice Goodwill Ambassador);
– Blessy Lindiwe Muoki (The Voice Young Goodwill Ambassador).

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