Two Kenyan innovators have been recognized for their outstanding efforts in ending global poverty with top awards from the Waislitz Global Citizen Awards. Peter Njeri, CEO of Mega Gas Alternative Energy, has been announced as the winner of the 2023 Waislitz Global Citizen Award, while Esther Kimani, Founder and CEO of FarmerLifeline Technologies, has been recognized as the Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award winner.
The Waislitz Global Citizen Awards, presented annually by the Waislitz Foundation and Global Citizen, are cash prizes totaling $250,000 that aim to acknowledge individuals who have made significant contributions to ending extreme poverty and addressing its systemic causes. The awards evaluate applicants based on criteria such as global citizenship, proof of concept, disruption, scalability, and adaptability.
Peter Njeri, the winner of the Waislitz Global Citizen Award, is the CEO of Mega Gas Alternative Energy. His clean-tech startup focuses on providing clean and affordable cooking energy to low-income families by converting plastic waste into clean cooking gas. With his patented technology, Njeri has been able to serve over 10,050 families in Kenya. The award will enable him to expand his reach and serve an additional 5,400 families each month.
Esther Kimani, the Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award winner, is the CEO of FarmerLifeline Technologies. Her climate agritech company is disrupting Africa’s agricultural sector by developing solar-powered AI-based devices for the detection of crop pests and diseases. Kimani’s vision is to end hunger and extreme poverty for 1 million marginalized smallholder farmers. Her technology has already impacted over 60,000 farmers in Kenya, and with the award, she plans to launch projects in Namibia, Uganda, Nigeria, and Rwanda, impacting the lives of over 200,000 farmers.
In addition to these two winners, Oluwafunke Adeoye from Nigeria has been recognized as the Waislitz Global Citizen Choice Award winner. Adeoye is a human rights lawyer and the founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa, an organization that provides free legal services and support to indigent incarcerated individuals while advocating for criminal justice reforms. With over 7,000 incarcerated individuals benefiting from the organization’s interventions, Adeoye plans to use the award to launch Justicepadi, a tech platform revolutionizing legal aid in West Africa.
Alex Waislitz, Chairman and Founder of the Waislitz Foundation, expressed his pride in the winners and his commitment to supporting these awards. He stated, We wanted to shine a light on those heroes working at grassroots levels to end global poverty… I wholeheartedly congratulate them all. I and the Waislitz Foundation remain committed to supporting and growing these awards for many years to come.
Hugh Evans, Co-Founder and CEO of Global Citizen, also congratulated the winners and emphasized the importance of their work in addressing the challenges of ending extreme poverty. He said, The world depends on individuals like these, leaders who are taking immediate action that impacts lives and inspires others to do the same.
The Waislitz Global Citizen Awards have seen continued growth and participation over the years, with the Waislitz Foundation committing almost $2 million since 2014 to support efforts to end extreme poverty. The awards have recognized individuals from various fields and regions, celebrating their innovative solutions and dedication to improving lives around the world.
These awards highlight the transformative power of innovation and entrepreneurship in addressing global poverty and inspiring change. They serve as a reminder of the importance of supporting individuals and their initiatives in creating a more equitable and sustainable future.
