Kennedy Odede

Founder & CEO of @hope2shine | I believe in the power of communities | We must localize aid!

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

Honored by the #NelsonMandelaPrize. Mandela’s name “Rolihlahla” means “troublemaker”—the good kind that stirs courage, justice, and compassion. If that means fighting for dignity, equality, and peace, count me in. Let’s keep making #GoodTrouble. The world needs more Rolihlahlas.

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

This Customer Service Week, I celebrate our members and customers who are at the heart of SHOFCO SACCO.

The growth of our SACCO reflects the trust you have placed in us and our shared commitment to building a stronger financial future.

As we grow, we remain firmly focused on serving the common mwananchi. #HappyCustomerServiceWeek

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

Sometimes, the things we take for granted can determine whether a child feels they belong.

A school uniform may look like a simple piece of clothing, but for a child from a struggling family, it can mean dignity and the freedom to focus on learning.

At SHOFCO, we have now reached 2,911 learners in 12 Nairobi public schools, with a wider goal of supporting 10,000 learners across eight counties.

[SHOFCO @hope2shine]

Women and girls need community-based support from safe spaces, healthcare and education to livelihoods, protection and referrals. Protection must extend online, too. Global attention must lead to action.
Lasting change starts with women and girls leading it. #GenderEquality

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

Back in 2009, we started the Kibera School for Girls with a dream to give girls in Kibera slums access to quality education and a chance to shape their own futures.

But that was never the end of the dream.

In September 2014, we opened the Mathare School for Girls, extending that vision to another community.

And this September, we took another bold step with the launch of Sankore International School.

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

As Africans, our borders should never become barriers to our shared humanity. Let us uphold the rule of law and protect vulnerable communities with dignity and love.

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

Today, my team visited Burundian Embassy where more than 2000 Burundians are seeking travel documents and what we saw is deeply concerning.

Families have been there since Monday, with limited food, inadequate shelter, poor sanitation and very few basic supplies.

Mothers with young children are struggling to access diapers, sanitary pads, soap and other essentials. Pregnant women also need urgent maternal support.

My team met with Ambassador Evelyne Habonimana to discuss the situation and explore ways of supporting those affected.

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

Today, we saw the power of community action in Kibera.

A road lobbied for by the SHOFCO Urban Network (SUN) enabled a fire truck to access the area where a fire broke out, helping emergency teams respond quickly.

This is the power of SUN.

I commend our SUN leaders and residents for championing infrastructure that serves the community when it matters most.

SHOFCO is hosting affected families as we work to determine the next course of action.

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

My heart goes out to the families and residents of Gatwekera, Kibera who have been affected by the devastating fire near the SHOFCO main site.

We stand with everyone who has lost their homes and belongings at this difficult time.

I am grateful to the community members and emergency teams who responded swiftly.

The use of SHOFCO’s aerial water infrastructure to help contain the fire demonstrates the importance of innovative water systems in protecting lives and communities, especially in densely populated settlements.

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

It was a pleasure to host The Wall Street Journal senior editors, led by Gordon Fairclough, at SHOFCO Kibera. 

Their visit offered an opportunity to showcase our community-led programmes and the work we do to expand access to education, healthcare, water, economic opportunities, GBV prevention & response, and other essential services.

We enjoyed engaging in a candid discussion about the growing burden on community clinics following the withdrawal of USAID support, and what this means for communities already facing significant challenges. 

We also reflected on how communities we serve may face further vulnerabilities during the election period and how SHOFCO will be best placed to respond.

Thank you to the team for spending time with us and engaging with our work on the ground.

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

I’m delighted to celebrate Last Mile Health as this year’s #HiltonPrize recipient.

Last Mile Health is transforming healthcare access by combining the power of community health workers with the expertise and partnerships needed to scale impact.

Through a network of 20,000 professionalized community health workers, the organization partners with governments to bring essential primary healthcare to families in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach communities across Africa.

Together, they are expanding access to care, strengthening health systems, and helping save millions of lives.

Congratulations to the entire Last Mile Health team. Your work is a powerful reminder that when we invest in communities, we can transform lives at scale. Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

#HiltonPrize #CommunityHealth #Africa #Healthcare #LastMileHealth

[SHOFCO @hope2shine]

𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐬. 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.
Whether in the city or the village, Kenya's youth share one dream; the chance to build a life of dignity and opportunity. This #InternationalYouthDay, SHOFCO stands with them.

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

At SHOFCO Kibera School for Girls (KSG) and SHOFCO Mathare School for Girls (MSG), we believe that education is not only about academic achievement but also about inspiring the next generation.

That is why we regularly bring back our graduates who have gone on to high schools and universities in Kenya and abroad to mentor and encourage current students.

It was an honor to welcome our 2021 KSG cohort back to Kibera last week and celebrate how far they have come.

Today, we have four KSG students in high school, 13 pursuing university education, and five graduates in the United States. Many others have enrolled and graduated in various high schools and universities across Kenya.

We are proud of them and excited to see the impact they will make in the world. @hope2shine #GirlChildEducation

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

I shared a working lunch with 40 newly elected SHOFCO Urban Network (SUN) leaders from Mombasa, Kilifi, Meru, and Migori as they wrapped up a four-day leadership workshop in Nairobi.

We reflected on what servant leadership truly means and prepared them for the responsibility ahead.

They will not only champion solutions within their communities but also represent the voices of their people by engaging those in authority and advocating for better services and opportunities. #CommunityLeadership

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

I am grateful for the strong partnership @hope2shine has built with the Kilifi County Government.

Together, we are expanding access to education, healthcare, GBV response, clean water, livelihoods, and opportunities for women and young people. @GideonMungaroM @HonMbetsa #CommunityService

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

Frankline refused to let stereotypes determine his future. Through @hope2shine's hairdressing training, he found a pathway to entrepreneurship.

Today, he owns and runs his own salon, challenging gender norms in a profession often viewed as female-dominated. #ChangingLives

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

Mombasa continues to show what is possible when communities, county leadership, and partners work together with a shared vision.

Over the past few years, @hope2shine has invested in education, youth & women's economic empowerment, WASH, gender, health, and grassroots leadership across the county. @A_S_Nassir @Zamzammohammed7
#CommunityEmpowerment

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

There is something powerful about watching communities choose their own leaders. Today, in Mombasa County, I had the honour of witnessing the election of new SHOFCO Urban Network (SUN) leaders. These are men and women who have stepped forward to serve and help shape a better future for their communities.

I started @hope2shine because I believed that the people closest to the challenges are also closest to the solutions. Through SUN, that belief has come to life.

Congratulations to our new leaders in Mombasa. I am excited to walk this journey with you and see the transformation that will come from your dedication.

Thank you, my friend H.E Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, Mombasa Woman Representative Hon. @Zamzammohammed7, and other leaders for attending our election exercise. #CommunityPower

[Kennedy Odede @KennedyOdede]

The strength of @hope2shine has always been rooted in community leadership, and through SHOFCO Urban Network (SUN), we have witnessed ordinary citizens become extraordinary changemakers.

Today, SUN has grown into a movement of more than 3.5 million people across Kenya, demonstrating that community power can create lasting change at scale.

It was inspiring to witness the election of new SUN leaders in Kilifi County earlier today. These leaders now carry the responsibility of representing their communities, and ensuring that the voices of residents shape development decisions.

I am grateful to Kilifi County Deputy Governor @HonMbetsa for gracing the election exercise and for her commitment to work closely with the newly elected leaders to identify and implement priority development projects for the people of Kilifi. #CommunityPower