One hundred and fifty seven Kenyan men and women were honoured at this year’s Mashujaa Day celebration.
The National Heroes Council categorised the heroes into 14 categories including freedom fighters, spiritual leaders, peace makers and sportsmen and women who have raised the flag high.
They include Kenya’s first Olympic medalist Wilson Kiprugut Chumo, who died last year aged 84.
President William Ruto on Friday, October 20, during the Mashujaa day celebrations renamed the Kericho Green Stadium after Kiprugut in his honour.
Other heroes include Faith Kipyegon and Kelvin Kiptum who in the last few months have both won gold medals and set new world records in different races.
In the freedom fighters’ category, 14 men and women were lauded for their efforts in delivering the country from the colonial master, among them include Koitalel Arap Samoei, Waiyaki wa Hinga and Moraa Ngi’ti from Kisii County.
In the sports category; Jane Ndenga, a wheelchair tennis player, Kenya’s netball team coach Dorothy Omondi, Joseph Kimathi, a sports sign language interpreter and Maurice Maina an awarding boxer join Kipyogen and others as heroes in sports.
Also recognised from the media is KTN News reporter Levis Musumba, who through his TV programme, Culture Quest documents cultural expressions of many communities in the country.
Reverend Timothy Kipchirchir, Fariq Mohammad, Lesepe Francis and Haron Kwambati were among those recognized for their contribution in peace keeping and ethical guidance through religion.
Under the cultural values and practices category, the six awardees include Fredrick Kimeu and Hellen Tanui, among others, awarded for being instrumental in preserving and promoting cultural practices and fighting against practices that no longer serves the community such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
State men and women like retired Deputy County Commissioner Fred Onyango and Ambrose Lochokwe are among the five heroes recognized for a job well done in improving various sectors of the country and being part of different developments that are beneficial to Kenyans.
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