By Joyce Wambui
Six people from Narok and Kajiado Counties were honoured with national awards by President Uhuru Kenyatta during this year Mashujaa Day celebrations in Mombasa.
The heroes and heroines were recognized and celebrated for bringing a positive impact to the community.
In Kajiado County, Esther Karapio Somoire was honoured for her effort to ensure a healthy county is outstanding. She was celebrated for championing, engineering, and spearheading the revival and flourishing of the health sector in the county. As the Chief Executive in charge of health, she has helped in creating more awareness on the importance of toilets to residents of Kajiado County.
She is seeking to create open defecation free zone to all corners of Kajiado. This will lead to prevention of outbreak of diseases such as cholera because of people consuming contaminated water. A public health centre has been constructed in Ngong through her initiative.
Stephen Oruma Nkaru, a religious leader, was also celebrated for championing peace in the region and supporting education initiatives.
In Narok County Julius ole Maki, a former Senior Chief and Transmara Peace Committee chairman, was recognised for contributing to peaceful co-existence of communities and participating in restoring peace and tranquility during the post- election violence in 2007/2008. He urged residents to put an end to the retaliatory attacks and the inter-clan conflicts brought about by fights over land and cattle.
Alice Kameria Esho, a career servant, was honoured for using her influence to champion and engineer eradication of female genital mutilation, which has a major setback to young girls from Narok.
Esho has also saved most young girls from early marriages besides helping in eliminating other retrogressive cultural practices such as gender based violence and child abuse.
Others feted under special category were Wilson Tulito ole Molil, for serving both as a teacher and paramount chief rising through the ranks and Daniel Saningo Pakuo, a prolific gospel singer, composer, writer and counselor,both are from Kajiado County.
“To be a shujaa is to be committed to going above and beyond your call of duty, whatever your station in life, in order to make Kenya a better place for all,’’ said President Uhuru Kenyatta.