Standard Group launches initiative to award achievers

Standard Group Chief Executive Officer Sam Shollei (right) with Deloitte Kenya Chief Executive Officer Sammy Onyango during the launch of the Transform Kenya initiative at a Nairobi hotel, Wednesday.  [PHOTO: MBUGUA KIBERA/STANDARD]

By Winsley Masese

Nairobi, Kenya: Individuals and institutions that have made exceptional contributions to the country’s development will be recognised in an event slated for January next year.

This follows the launch of an initiative dubbed Transform Kenya, a drive that seeks to promote positive change in the country and ensure the nation achieves sustainable development.

Founded by Standard Group, with Deloitte as the assurance partner and Riara University as the knowledge partner, the awards will highlight people and institutions committed to improving the lives of other Kenyans.

“We would like to champion and support Kenyan heroes and heroines who have transformed society, and those who will continue to do so,” said Sam Shollei, the Standard Group chief executive officer.

The long-term goal of the initiative is to create sustainable business that will create employment and transform Kenya’s economy.

Mr Shollei said the awards seek to recognise individuals for their exceptional contribution to society’s development objectives.

During the unveiling of the project at a Nairobi hotel yesterday, Shollei stressed the need to review the challenges that have held the country back as it celebrates 50 years of independence. He also said the country needs to explore ways of overcoming these challenges so as to prosper in all parameters of development.

The initiative also aims to inspire and encourage the agents of change to do more and serve as role models for others to emulate through life-changing projects.

“We want to identify champions, encourage transformation, and be there to tell these stories,” said Shollei, adding: “We will look beyond profit and recognise outcomes that have powerful social impact.”

The Standard Group CEO called for support from the corporate sector to make this annual event successful in recognising heroes of transformation.

Speaking at the event, Deloitte Kenya Chief Executive Officer Sammy Onyango challenged innovative Kenyans to play their rightful role to better the lives of fellow countrymen.

“We want to partner for a purpose – to better the lives of Kenyans in all spheres of life,” he said.

Mr Onyango added that it is individuals who make a corporate and with a small idea, one can go a long way in transforming society.

“A small idea can reverberate and create a far-reaching impact in the community we live in,” he said.

Noting that one of the common ways companies extend assistance to the society is through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Onyango said institutions need to entrench this culture as one way of giving back to society.

Owe the community

He said though businesses have a responsibility to their customers, shareholders, suppliers and the Government, they also owe the community a lot.

“If a company is not participating in this, it would be killing its business in future because the same people are the consumers of goods and services it offers,” he noted.

Onyango urged companies to be responsible to the community in which they operate in order to sustain their business into the future, and also celebrate the values and their achievements.

“This way, the story of Kenya would then be fundamentally different and encourage others to take part in transforming the country,” he said.

Abel Kinoti, dean of Business School, Riara University, said the institution is keen on recognising people who share what they have done to transform the lives of others.

“We want to go to the ground and find out what people are doing to better the lives of the people where they operate and share the story,” he said.

Mr Kinoti said one criterion to be used in awarding achievers is innovation – to establish what one has done beyond what already exists.

Kinoti said the event will explore what individuals and organisations have done to improve the overall quality of life.