NAIROBI, Kenya, September 12, 2026 — Changemakers from Kenya and other parts of the world were celebrated on Saturday as the inaugural SPICY Awards 2026 were held at Mageuzi Hub in Hurlingham, Nairobi, marking the launch of a new platform dedicated to recognising individuals and organisations creating positive impact in society.
Organised by Spice Without Borders, the awards recognised changemakers across five broad categories — Activists, Creatives, Entrepreneurs, Initiators and Innovators — working in areas including education, human rights, entrepreneurship, innovation, community development and social justice.
The awards are anchored on the theme “From the Margins to the Mainstage” and seek to recognise people whose work creates meaningful social, economic, cultural and environmental impact but who may not always receive mainstream recognition.
Speaking at the ceremony, Spice Without Borders Founder and Chief Catalyst Erick Inghatt Matsanza said the concept of “spice” reflects the diversity of changemakers and the different ways in which they contribute to society.
Using chillies of different colours as a metaphor, Matsanza said every changemaker possesses a distinctive ability that can be used to address challenges in their community.
“You have the spice in you,” he told participants, urging them to continue creating change from wherever they are and to collaborate with others to multiply their impact.
The inaugural Awarding Board was chaired by Daniel Juma Omondi, Africa Regional Representative and Kenya Country Lead of the Global Peace Foundation, who provided leadership and oversight to the awards process.
Omondi said the awards should distinguish themselves by recognising impact and character rather than simply popularity and public visibility.
“Today is more than an awards ceremony; it is a celebration of courage, creativity, enterprise, initiative, innovation and service,” he said.
“Awards carry a responsibility. They must celebrate not merely visibility or popularity, but impact, character, innovation, integrity and contribution to society.”
Among those recognised was Bovince Ochieng , the Kisumu County Chief Officer for Education, who received an award in recognition of his contribution to education. His recognition highlighted the role of public servants and education leaders in using their positions to improve opportunities and outcomes within their communities.
Other honourees included Kenyan environmental and civic advocate Anita Soina, who was recognised as Concerned Citizen of the Year; Switzerland-based transformation catalyst Rima Chopra, recognised for Social Justice Campaign of the Year; mental health advocate Samuel Luchemo; and Mary Jack of Vanuatu, who was recognised for her work in diversity and inclusion.
Some of the international recipients who could not attend physically participated virtually. Chopra, speaking through a recorded message from Switzerland, said meaningful change often begins quietly and can take years before receiving public recognition.
Omondi told nominees and recipients that recognition should serve as an encouragement to expand their contribution to society.
“Whether or not you leave here carrying a trophy, your nomination itself says that somebody has seen your work, your sacrifice and your impact,” he said.
Omondi was also presented with the Founding Awarding Board Leadership Recognition for his stewardship of the inaugural Awarding Board and contribution to establishing the standards and principles underpinning the awards.
He paid tribute to Matsanza for conceptualising the initiative and expressed hope that the SPICY Awards would develop into a credible international platform for identifying and supporting emerging changemakers.
“Years from now, when this platform has grown across Kenya, Africa and perhaps the world, we will remember that it started with a community of people who believed that changemakers deserved to be seen, celebrated and encouraged,” Omondi said.
The SPICY Awards form part of a broader Spice Without Borders initiative aimed at connecting grassroots changemakers to networks, partnerships, visibility and opportunities. Organisers say the platform is intended to go beyond presenting trophies by building a community through which changemakers can learn from one another and collaborate.
The inaugural event brought together activists, entrepreneurs, creatives, innovators, community leaders and development actors, setting the foundation for what organisers hope will become an annual international platform celebrating people transforming communities from the grassroots.
Closing his remarks, Omondi captured the aspirations of the new initiative in a phrase that became one of the messages of the evening:
“The spice is rising — and may it continue to rise.”
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