“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” African Proverb.

Graça Machel Trust Women in Media Champion & Amnesty International Kenya’s Chairperson and advocate, Renee Ngamau was recently honoured for her dedication as a human rights defender to protect public land. Renee received the United Succes Global Award titled Women Moving Mountains for the advocacy work, especially for the defence of playgrounds and open spaces and for her work through ReneeSense Ltd., where she has been working towards the goal of training one million African women entrepreneurs to confidently run successful businesses which hire at least five other women and pay them the top salary scale within their countries.

“My award is a product of 900 plus people, 217 plus families, 10 driven officials, countless efforts of Jamhuri Residents and well-wishers globally. Asanteni [thank you] #Ubuntu.” She dedicated the award to the leadersof Jamhuri estate( where she lives in Nairobi, Kenya), for their commitment, dedication, bravery, vision and leadership of their estate, and to the residents of Jamhuri Estate for their steadfast refusal to accept intimidation by land grabbers and their dedication to the preservation of green spaces.

“I told the entrepreneurs, industrialists and manufacturers gathered from as far as Hong Kong, the Netherlands, South Africa, the USA and the Kenyan contingents that we at Jamhuri are following in the footsteps of those who have boldly spoken truth to power and are doing our bit to protect not just our own spaces but what we intend to bequeath to our children. I asked them to do the same too in their own countries,” shared Renee.

The leadership of United Success Global, Madam Corrine Heijn congratulated her and the Jamhuri estate committee for their stand, for providing leadership and courage in the face of intimidation. Ms Heijn stated her hope that this award would be a symbol to keep inspiring us to stand for truth, to stand against misuse of power and to always shine our light.

“We may think that what we are doing is not seen nor recognized. It is. Far beyond our borders. In places, we may not know or hear of. Let us not stop what we do in those quiet spaces that we occupy. We know that great leadership shows up as a team, not an individual so let us not tarry in our work. May our work together and separately, shine a light in the good women do, bring to light the wrongs done in darkness, and grow and inspire others to take back our collective birthright from those who would destroy it for their selfish wants,” she said.