Kenya’s best teachers, schools and education leaders will be celebrated at a grand gala on December 5, 2026 in Nairobi, as the country prepares to hold the inaugural Elimu Awards, with a top prize of Ksh 500,000 waiting for the best teacher in the land.
The awards, organised by Elimu Awards Kenya, aim to recognise outstanding contributions across the entire education sector, from Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) all the way to university level. Organisers describe the event as more than just a ceremony, calling it a strategic move to restore the dignity of the teaching profession.
Fourteen award categories are on offer across two tracks; twelve general awards and two corporate awards. The general categories include excellence in early years education, Competency Based Education (CBE), Special Needs Education (SNE), senior school innovation, university innovation, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), university leadership, outstanding new teacher achievement, inclusive institutional culture, and environmental excellence.
The special people’s choice achievement winner walks away with the Ksh 500,000 cash prize, while the lifetime achievement winner will receive a car.
ALSO READ:
Police, church leaders raise alarm over rising alcohol and drug abuse among young women
Beyond those, other prizes up for grabs include trophies, certificates, scholarships, laptops, tablets, solar systems, educational resource kits and travel experiences.
Nominations are now open and, importantly, they are completely free. Anyone can nominate a deserving educator or institution by filling in an online form at www.elimuawards.co.ke. The deadline is June 30, 2026.
To ensure fairness, all nominations will go through a thorough verification process before being handed to an independent panel of judges. The panel includes Prof. Tom Odhiambo of the University of Nairobi (UoN), who has previously chaired judging panels for the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature; Professor Mikhail Iossel, a Guggenheim Fellowship recipient based at Concordia University in Canada, with strong ties to Kenya through literary workshops in Nairobi and Lamu; Tony Mochama, a three time winner of the Burt Award for African Young Adult Literature and a veteran journalist; and David Kaunda, a corporate communications expert and member of the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK).
After judging concludes, an Advisory Board will carry out a final review before winners are notified confidentially. The gala dinner on December 5, 2026 will then bring together winners, sponsors and education stakeholders from all 47 counties.
By Benedict Aoya
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
