Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Founder and CEO Dr. Kennedy Odede was on Tuesday crowned as a Kaya Elder by the Mijikenda Kaya Elders Association in a colorful ceremony held deep within the sacred Kaya Similani Hill in Kwale County.
The event, marked by blessings from spiritual custodians of the Mijikenda culture, was attended by cultural practitioners.
The ceremony symbolized a bridge between traditional wisdom and modern community-driven development.As the elders performed rituals invoking ancestral blessings, Dr. Odede was adorned with traditional Kaya regalia signifying his new role as a custodian of community values and development.
“Being welcomed as a Kaya elder is one of my greatest honors. Culture is the foundation upon which true development stands.
“When we honor our heritage, we strengthen the social fabric that holds our communities together. SHOFCO’s work in empowering grassroots communities is rooted in unity, and shared humanity,” Dr. Odede said.
Dr. Odede, who grew up in Nairobi’s Kibera slum and rose to become a globally recognized social entrepreneur, said he sees the recognition not only as a personal milestone but as a testament to the power of grassroots movements rooted in local identity.
“Development is not about imposing ideas from outside, it’s about building from the ground up, using the strength of our people and our culture.
“When we combine innovation with tradition, we unlock Kenya’s true potential,” he stated.
The SHOFCO founder has rolled out various development programs in the coast region that include scholarships, water distribution, gender-based violence prevention & response, women & youth empowerment activities, school libraries, community centres and Sacco.
The Mijikenda Kaya elders, known for their role in preserving traditional governance systems and cultural values, lauded Dr. Odede’s contributions to social development across Kenya, particularly in uplifting marginalized communities.
The SHOFCO boss cautioned the elders against being misused by politicians ahead of the 2027 election.
“Politicians like coming to you for blessings, but once they have won seats, they abandon you in poverty.
“This region is known to be very poor and yet it has a lot of potential. I’m calling on you, the elders, to spearhead development and avoid politicians who only come to you for blessings and votes,” he added.
Mwinyi Mwalimu, Chairman of the Mijikenda Kaya Elders Association, said the honor was a recognition of Dr. Odede’s transformative leadership and commitment to community empowerment.
“A true leader listens to the people and uplifts them from within. Dr. Odede embodies these values.
“His work shows that development and culture are not opposing forces; they complement each other. He has done a lot for our people and that’s why we have crowned him as one of us,” Mwalimu said.
The elders emphasized that cultural identity provides the moral compass and collective resilience necessary to navigate modern challenges such as inequality, and poverty.
Kalulu Mwamzuka, the Association’s Vice Chairman, echoed the sentiment, noting that honoring modern leaders through traditional rites strengthens intergenerational ties.
“We are witnessing a new era where our traditions and modern leadership walk hand in hand.
“When people like Dr. Odede embrace our culture, they remind the youth that our heritage is not a relic of the past, it is a tool for the future,” Mwamzuka said.
The event concluded with a special meal symbolizing unity and shared purpose.
SHOFCO has over 600,000 members under its Shofco Urban Network (SUN) program in the coastal region, majority of whom are women and youth.
The members are spread across Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta, and Tana River counties. The organisation runs community empowerment programs in 40 counties across Kenya, serving 4.1 million people directly yearly.
