A newly constructed access road in Jomvu, Mombasa, has been officially named in honor of Dr. Kennedy Odede, one of world’s most influential social entrepreneurs and the founder and CEO of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO).
The road, now known as the Kennedy Odede Access Road, was unveiled on Wednesday in a colorful ceremony attended by national and local leaders, and community members.
The initiative was spearheaded by Jomvu Member of Parliament Badi Twalib, who said the naming was a deliberate gesture to recognize Dr. Odede’s remarkable journey from the slums of Nairobi to the global stage, and his unwavering commitment to improving lives in Kenya’s informal settlements, including the Coast region.
“Dr. Odede is a living testament that greatness is not defined by where you start, but by what you choose to do with your life.
“We in Jomvu have watched him work closely with our communities. He didn’t come with empty promises, he came with real programs, clean water, women’s empowerment, scholarships, and a belief in the potential of our youth. When we were planning this road, it became clear: his name belongs here, permanently,” MP Twalib said.
The 4.5-kilometer access road links several densely populated areas within the Bangladesh settlement and is expected to ease traffic, enhance trade, and provide safer passage for residents, particularly schoolchildren and market vendors.
“This is not just a road. This is a message to every young person in Bangladesh ward and across Mombasa that even if you grow up with nothing, you can still build something that changes the world,” Mbadi added.
Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir joined the event and praised the MP’s move to honor a changemaker whose work is deeply rooted in community development.
“What Dr. Odede represents is what this county and this country need more. He did not wait to be elected or appointed. He did not build castles in the air. He walked into the toughest neighborhoods with empowerment programs and he believed in people.
“And from that belief, he built one of the most impactful grassroots movements in Africa. That is leadership,” Governor Nassir said.
On his part, Dr. Odede expressed gratitude and thanked the leadership for honoring him.
“I never imagined that a road would carry my name, especially here in Mombasa. This is a place where I’ve found family, friendship, and shared purpose,” Odede said.
The SHOFCO boss said the honor humbled and inspired him to do more for the underprevildged communities across Kenya.
“I am deeply honored. But more than that, I am humbled because this road is not about me alone. It is about all the young people in the slums of Mathare, Kibera, Bangladesh, and Changamwe who wake up every day fighting for a better future.
“If this road stands for anything, let it stand for the power of believing in yourself and believing in your community,” he stated.
Dr. Odede has launched several empowerment programs in Mombasa county that include community centres in Kisauni, Bangladesh, Maweni, Likoni, and Changamwe.
The centres host several programs that include school libraries, women empowerment activities, computer labs, community halls, gender services among others.
SHOFCO has over 180,000 members in Mombasa County under its community organizing platform – Shofco Urban Network (SUN)
Dr. Odede has also offered TVET schoolarships to over 3000 young people, and paid secondary school fees to over 1000 students in the county.
The SHOFCO founder was in the county to launch two new buses that will be used by the community to generate income.
