A newly constructed access road in Jomvu, Mombasa, has been
officially named in honour of Dr. Kennedy Odede, one of the world’s most
influential social entrepreneurs and the founder and CEO of Shining Hope for
Communities (SHOFCO).
The road, now known as the Kennedy Odede Access Road, was
unveiled on Wednesday in a colourful ceremony attended by national and local leaders and community members.
The initiative was spearheaded by Jomvu Member of Parliament
Badi Twalib, who said the naming was a deliberate gesture to recognise Dr.
Odede’s remarkable journey from the slums of Nairobi to the global stage, and
his unwavering commitment to improving lives in Kenya’s informal settlements,
including the Coast region.
“Dr. Odede is a living testament that greatness is not
defined by where you start, but by what you choose to do with your life.
“We in Jomvu have watched him work closely with our
communities. He didn’t come with empty promises; he came with real programs,
clean water, women’s empowerment, scholarships, and a belief in the potential
of our youth. When we were planning this road, it became clear: his name
belongs here, permanently,” MP Twalib said.
The 4.5-kilometre access road links several densely
populated areas within the Bangladesh settlement and is expected to ease
traffic, enhance trade, and provide safer passage for residents, particularly
schoolchildren and market vendors.
“This is not just a road. This is a message to every young
person in the Bangladesh ward and across Mombasa that even if you grow up with
nothing, you can still build something that changes the world,” Mbadi added.
Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir joined the
event and praised the MP’s move to honour a changemaker whose work is deeply
rooted in community development.
“What Dr. Odede represents is what this country needs more
of. He did not wait to be elected or appointed. He did not build castles in the
air. He walked into the toughest neighbourhoods with empowerment programs, and
he believed in people.
“And from that belief, he built one of the most impactful
grassroots movements in Africa. That is leadership,” Governor Nassir said.
On his part, Dr. Odede expressed gratitude and thanked the
leadership for honouring him.
“I never imagined that a road would carry my name,
especially here in Mombasa. This is a place where I’ve found family,
friendship, and shared purpose,” Odede said.
The SHOFCO boss said the honour humbled and inspired him to do more for the underprivileged communities across Kenya.
“I am deeply honoured. But more than that, I am humbled
because this road is not about me alone. It is about all the young people in
the slums of Mathare, Kibera, Bangladesh, and Changamwe who wake up every day
fighting for a better future.
“If this road stands for anything, let it stand for the
power of believing in yourself and believing in your community,” he stated.
Dr. Odede has launched several empowerment programs in
Mombasa County that include community centres in Kisauni, Maweni,
Likoni, and Changamwe.
The centres host several programs, including school
libraries, women's empowerment activities, computer labs, community halls, and
gender services, among others.
SHOFCO has over 180,000 members in Mombasa County under its
community organising platform - Shofco Urban Network (SUN)
Dr. Odede has also offered TVET scholarships to over 3,000
young people and paid secondary school fees to more than 1,000 students in the
county.
The SHOFCO founder was in the county to launch two new buses
that the community will use to generate income.
