The inaugural Young Entrepreneur Awards 2018 will bring together business founders and entertainment figures in Nairobi, with the top prize drawn from the male and female entrepreneur categories.
Voting was underway and was scheduled to close on Sunday, November 25, ahead of the awards ceremony set for November 28 in the capital. Thirty-two nominees were listed across eight categories, including agripreneurship, services, fashion and beauty, hospitality, entertainment, manufacturing, real estate and digital technology.
The entertainment category includes gospel artiste Kevin Bahati of EMB Records, Anthony Mwangi, also known as Anto Neo Soul, and Abel Mutua of Phil-It Productions. The overall male award will be contested by Brian Gacara of Property Reality Company, Eugene Mbugua of Young Rich Television Limited, Pancras Karema of Expeditions Maasai Safaris and Meshack Alloys of Sendy.
Karema, who leads Expeditions Maasai Safaris, was nominated alongside co-founder Lawrence Ndegea for helping build the company, founded in 2015, into one of Kenya’s leading tours and travel firms. He said the company’s service model is built around customers of every budget, adding that a customer-first approach is its strongest marketing tool.
The company had already won two OLX SOMA Awards, including Social Media Organization of the Year 2016 and Most Social Business in Kenya Biz Yangu Award.
In the female category, Anerlisa Muigai of Nero Company Ltd will face Nancy Amunga of Dana Communications, Lucia Musau of African Elite Group and Michelle Ntalami of Marini Naturals.
Other nominees listed for the awards were:
- Agripreneur Award: John Kiruthi of Farmers Trend, Rodgers Kirwa of iAgribiz Africa and Peter Ngigi of Remington Africa.
- Services Industry Award: Anyiko Owoko of Anyiko Public Relations, Mumbi Ndung’u of Ibua Africa and Mary Njoki of Glass House PR.
- Fashion and Beauty Award: Ian Mati of Vintara Collections KE, Valentine Nekesa of Nekesa Queens Ltd and Debbie Oyugi of Debbie Oyugi Kids.
- Hospitality Award: Muthuri Kinyamu of Turn Up Travel Global, Stephen Maithya of Stevenchy Photography and Martin Ruga of Deserts Anyone Ltd.
- Manufacturing Award: Collins K. Rutto of Sun Pride Garments Ltd., Ruth Mwanzia of Kooler Waters and Mercy Kyallo of Yallo Limited.
- Real Estate Award: Moses Muriithi of Fanaka Real Estate Ltd, Tim Kipchumba of Questworks Limited and Lucas Mwangi of Appropriate Design Ltd.
- Digital Technology Award: Samuel Majani of Ghafla, George Magunga of themagunga.com and Mark Kaigwa of Nendo.
Additional reporting by Hilary Kimuyu.
