PRESS RELEASE

Leading firms in various industries were recognized in a key annual award dubbed Pacesetters Awards (PSA) Kenya held at Panari Hotel Nairobi. This year’s award received huge backing from various industry players that partnered with Jubilant Stewards of Africa (JSA), a Non-governmental organization, who are the organizers of these awards, to make the award ceremony a success. Some of the sponsors and partners of the award include The Telecommunications giant Safaricom Plc, a regional Equipment rental firm and dealer and AVT Insurance Agency Ltd among others.

This was the second Pacesetters Award Ceremony in Kenya and the third one will be held in the first week of June 2022 in Nairobi. Plans are underway to conduct the awards in Kampala in March 2022 to feature Ugandan companies. The awards in Nairobi attracted entries from various countries of Africa. This saw Ugandan firms and a Sierra Leone national scoop the key awards. Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa are among other African countries where the pacesetters awards will be held. The organizers say they have already pitched tents in Uganda and Zambia to ensure that everything goes as planned.

Speaking at Panari Hotel Nairobi where the announced winners of various categories were awarded, Dr. Mary Boniface, the CEO of Jubilant Stewards of Africa, said “our research team is already on the ground in Kampala and Lusaka to carry out the survey as we prepare for the awards in the respective cities early next year. We will not do this alone. Various partners have approached us and we are still vetting them to make decisions on who to work with. For Kenya, we will be conducting the awards in June due to partners’ requests so that we avoid the festive rush.”

Commenting on the awards, Hon. Jaoko Oburu Oginga, the CEC Infrastructure Siaya County, said “Businesses should invest in the rural counties such as Siaya County where there are more consumers that the businesses in the cities are yet to tap into. The county government of Siaya is open to investors and support businesses that are setting a pace like yours. All the Pacesetters Award winners are welcomed in the Lake region to do business. We have advanced the ease of doing business and we will continue supporting you. Keep setting the pace.”

Some of the companies that scooped the awards include last year’s award winners like Regional leasing firm, Vehicle and Equipment Leasing Limited (VAELL), Digital lender Zenka Finance, Digital Driving School, Myspace Properties, the Blue Nile Rolling Mills. Most of these firms have bagged other awards including the Top 100 NMG KPMG Survey. VAELL leasing graduated from KPMG Top 100 to club 101, which features companies with over Kes annual turnover. 1 billion.

Some of the firms that were recognized in this industry leadership survey for the first time included Real Auto Spares, AVT Insurance Agency Ltd, City Walk Limited, Ruiru Mabati, Kevian Kenya LTD Afia drink Manufacturer, Siaya County, Security Firm Jeff Hamilton K Ltd, Kampala Uganda based Fintech firm; Service Cops Ltd, Sereni Fries, Goodman Agencies LTD, Chabshar Solutions Limited, the online shopping platform Jiji Kenya and Nakuru based Hospital Valley Hospital.

The award features organizations, individuals, businesses, and government agencies who over the years have demonstrated exemplary leadership, outstanding innovation, quality products, and services, growing the economy as well as positively transforming society. PSA awards seek to encourage these groups to go beyond the call of duty in their service to humanity. It considers companies’ excellence in the industry and contemplates the service delivery processes involved and how organizations make special efforts for the benefit of humankind. It is also committed to endorsing the best industry leadership ethics and practices.

Jared Oundo, the Director of Programs Communications at Jubilant Stewards of Africa explained that the survey takes a whole year to be finalized and the applicants are assessed based on various parameters including their delivery and impact on the economy and society. This year, the award organizers looked at how the firms handled the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw many businesses crumble and jobs lost.  He added that next year they will be also looking at financial data and using it to categorize the firms into platinum, gold, silver, and bronze categories.

“The award winners are intensely scrutinized and selected competitively through a procedure that encompasses a public vote and a panel of judges who are professionals with admirable achievements, respected in their respective industry, and professionals of unquestionable integrity and character. The judges work independently and fairly without any biases towards any candidate or company.

While receiving the Pacesetter Award in the Electric Vehicles category, Yvonne Nzisa Head of Legal of the Regional Leasing Firm, Vehicle and Equipment Leasing Limited (VAELL) that won in this category said, “We are enlightened to have been recognized as early adopters of electric vehicles (EV) that are geared towards conservation of the environment and Mother Nature. As key players in the private sector, we will continue doing our best and hope the government will support the uptake of the EVs. If the government and private stakeholders work together to create a conducive environment it will encourage uptake in the rural areas. The rules should not only be for government entities setting up EV infrastructure they should also create a public-private partnership framework. This will enable private companies to take part in the development of this infrastructure and promote competition in the market. If we can formulate and implement policies that will support the growth of EVs then we are sure to succeed. The policies ought to support the development of EV infrastructure.”

For further updates and details, please contact,

Ms. Purity Mumo,

Programs Communications Officer,

Jubilant Stewards of Africa,

Cell: +254723 846881/ +254 (0)719408244

Tel: 0202120091

Email:  admin@jubilantstewards.org,

purity@jubilantstewards.org

ABOUT JUBILANT STEWARDS OF AFRICA (JSA)

Jubilant Stewards of Africa (JSA) is a Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to the improvement of living standards, social ethics, dignity, and empowerment of communities. JSA is registered with the NGO Bureau of Kenya to conserve the environment, provide access to education, health care services, increase agricultural production, and promote peace. Over the years, we have been widely involved in leadership training, mentorship programs, Capacity building, business support, environmental advocacy and protection, training of farmers, crusades against drug and substance abuse, promotion of peaceful coexistence, campaign for responsible sexual behavior to bring up a responsible and a dependable generation. As an Umbrella of NGOs and other Community-Based Organizations, we work with strategic partners to serve humanity.

ABOUT PACESETTERS AWARDS

Pacesetters Awards (PSA) survey is a one-year Industry leadership Recognition appraisal initiated by Jubilant Stewards of Africa (JSA), a Non-Governmental Organization, to celebrate industry leaders for their innovation, quality products, services, job creation, exemplary leadership, growing the economy, and transforming the society. The survey started on 1^st November 2020 and concluded on November 1^st,2021.  The winners in various categories were competitively selected through a thorough process that partly involved a public vote and a panel of judges.

PSA seeks to encourage organizations and individuals to go beyond the call of duty in their service to humanity. PSA awards don’t just look at excellence as being top in the industry but look at the processes involved and how organizations go out of their way to serve humanity. It also purposes to promote best practices and ethics in industry leadership. The awards are based on the Performance Index (OPI) where processes and systems are scrutinized and benchmarked against globally acceptable standards. Pacesetters Awards recognize and celebrate the key players in various categories who have over the years achieved outstanding results and made positive contributions in their industry growth.

Some of the institutions and individuals honored include; (given certificates and trophies)