Platinum Sponsor Safaricom PLC cements its leadership in diversity and inclusion, emerging as a top winner at the 8th DIAR Awards.
By Maximilla Wafula
NAIROBI, KENYA:
The Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) was bathed in a glow of
prestige and celebration this past Friday as the 8th Edition of the National
Diversity and Inclusion Awards & Recognition (DIAR Awards) took center
stage. The gala dinner, themed "Awarding
Inclusion, Equity, Impact & Sustainability Champions," brought
together a powerful assembly of government agencies, corporate giants, and
grassroots trailblazers dedicated to breaking barriers in Kenyan society.
At the pinnacle of the evening’s corporate
recognition, Safaricom PLC
emerged as the crown winner, cementing its status as a Platinum Sponsor and a
leader in institutionalizing equality. The telecommunications giant was lauded
for its transformative "44-50-50"
model, achieving 44% representation in management and an impressive 50%
gender parity in other employment categories, setting a high bar for other
corporations to emulate.
The public sector also saw a historic performance
from the Anti-Female Genital Mutilation
(Board), which scooped the second-place trophy among 100 competing
organizations. Speaking at the event, a triumphant Bernadette Loloju, CEO of the Anti-FGM Board, attributed the
success to the board’s inclusive approach to human rights. She noted that by
bringing elders the gatekeepers of culture into the conversation, the board has
made massive strides. Loloju highlighted the "My Dear Daughter" campaign launched by First Lady Mama
Rachel Ruto in late 2025 as a turning point, sharing encouraging statistics
that showed a drastic drop in FGM prevalence from 38% in 1998 to 14.8% in 2022,
with a firm goal of reaching zero cases by 2030.
The push for a more inclusive future was further
exemplified by Konza Technopolis
Development Authority (KoTDA), which emerged as a Top 10 winner in the
inclusion, equity, impact, and sustainability category. Represented by Janet Biegon and Veronica Njoroge,
Konza City was recognized as a "Taifa Laureate" for its efforts in
ensuring that Kenya’s "Silicon Savannah" is built on a foundation of
diversity and equal opportunity for all Kenyans.
The awards further shone a spotlight on Clare Aregae Ebenyo, the Principal of
AIC Country Girls Secondary School in Turkana East, who was named among the DIAR Top 30 Executives Taifa Trailblazers.
Represented by Erufe Samaledeke, Ms. Ebenyo was praised for changing the
narrative in marginalized parts of Kenya where the girl child and persons with
disabilities have historically been neglected.
Adding to the spirit of regional development, the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) was honored for its sustainability work across 18 counties. Andrew Osoro, Deputy Director of Corporate Communications, alongside Mr. Raymond Ollo, emphasized their commitment to ensuring 30% of all procurements are reserved for youth and disability groups. Similarly, the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) was recognized for its leadership under CEO Jacinta L. Akatsa, HSC.
As the curtains fell, the event proved that
inclusion is no longer just a policy in Kenya, but the very heartbeat of the
nation's progress toward Vision 2030.
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