Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) has intensified its empowerment programs across Migori County, touching thousands of lives through water, youth, and business initiatives.

With over 42,000 Shofco Urban Network (SUN) members, SHOFCO’s presence in Migori continues to grow as it promotes self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

SUN is a powerful community-led movement with over 6.2 million members across Kenya. To address the county’s long-standing water challenges, SHOFCO has desilted and rehabilitated 23 water pans across Migori.

The initiative not only ensures access to clean and reliable water but also encourages fish farming and small-scale irrigation, empowering households to turn water into wealth.

SHOFCO’s Founder and CEO, Dr. Kennedy Odede emphasized that the organization’s focus is anchored on community-led transformation.

“Real change begins when communities take charge of their own destiny. In Migori, we see people coming together to build a future that is dignified, and inclusive. SHOFCO is simply the bridge that connects people to their potential,” Dr. Odede said during SUN election in the county on Wednesday.

SHOFCO’s empowerment programs have reached more than 44,000 youth in Migori through business and advocacy training, enabling them to develop leadership, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement skills.

The organization has also supported 700 local businesses with funding, providing critical capital to help small enterprises recover and expand.

At the same time, over 200 youth have been enrolled in vocational training programs, gaining hands-on skills in trades such as tailoring, mechanics, ICT, and construction.

In addition, 2,000 young people have received seed funding to start their own ventures, part of SHOFCO’s larger mission to combat unemployment and inspire innovation at the grassroots.

Dr. Odede also announced a new initiative to help 1000 youth in the county with business grants in 2026. Migori Deputy Governor Dr. Joseph Mahiri lauded SHOFCO’s approach to partnership, calling it a model for effective development collaboration.

“The partnership between SHOFCO and Migori County is a testament to what happens when public and community-based institutions work hand in hand.

“Together, we are proving that sustainable development is not imposed from above, it is co-created with the people,” Dr. Mahiri said.

Edward Ouma Ooro, MCA for South Sakwa Ward and Migori County Assembly Majority Leader, applauded SHOFCO’s tangible results on the ground, noting that the initiatives have brought new hope to young people in the county.

“Our youth are no longer waiting for opportunities, they are creating them. Thanks to SHOFCO’s programs, many families in the county have a renewed sense of purpose and economic stability,” said Ooro.

Former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo, who also graced the SUN election in Migori, praised SHOFCO as a national movement for transformation, recognizing its expansion beyond traditional urban centers.

“What SHOFCO is doing goes far beyond charity. It represents a people-driven revolution, a Kenyan story of unity, and empowerment that should be replicated across all 47 counties,” he said.

The SUN election brought together community representatives from all wards in the county. The elected SUN leaders will serve as liaisons between the community and SHOFCO, ensuring that development priorities reflect local needs.

The elected leaders also help to bridge the gap between the government and the people by ensuring that community needs are addressed.

Founded by Dr. Odede, who grew up in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, SHOFCO has become Kenya’s most influential grassroots movement cementing its presence in 40 counties and counting.

The organization reaches 4.1 million Kenyans across the country, providing clean water, education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, financial assistance, and youth development initiatives.

He is the winner of the 2025 UN Nelson Mandela Prize and was last year named alongside President William Ruto among 100 world’s most influential people by Times Magazine.

Dr. Odede’s work has earned him global recognition including honors from the United Nations (UN), the Obama Foundation, Times 100 among other accolades.