Kenyan emerges third in the African Rising Activism Awards

By Samuel Ouma Christine Khabuya, a Kenyan, came in third in the African Rising Activism Awards, which were hosted in Abuja, Nigeria, on Monday. Activist of the Year, Movement of the Year, and Artistic Activist of the Year 2021 were the three categories for the awards. Wilson Atumeyi of Nigeria received 1,467 votes as the activist of the year, followed by Maulline Gragau of Ethiopia with 1,320 votes. Khabuya received 668 votes. Also known as Tina Khan, Khabuya is a Kenyan human rights defender and peace and security activist located in Mombasa. She is the chair of the Nyali District Peace Committee, which tries to encourage community people to join and advocate conversation rather than mob justice and killings. Khabuya claims to have reformed 600 young people who were involved in illegal activities and were at risk of radicalization and joining local extremist groups, as well as drug trafficking and misuse. According to the activist, she has aided the youth by teaching them life skills and providing psychosocial assistance. The kids were reintegrated into society and are now peace and security ambassadors in their communities. Youth4Parliament from Zambia won the movement of the year award after garnering 722 votes, with Ondjango Feminista from Angola coming in second with 682 votes and Black Lives Matter-Leeds from the United Kingdom coming in third with 531 votes. Joice Zau of Angola won artistic of the year with 1 112 votes, while Odelia Koroma of Sierra Leone came in second with 1, 080 votes. With 781 votes, Senegalese Sister LB finished in third. "We congratulate all of the prize winners and nominees who took part in the competition." They are all great reminders that Africans all around the world are leading the charge to build the Africa we want," Africans Rising said in a statement.