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Kenyan social entrepreneur and nutrition expert Wawira Njiru has been presented the prestigious 2026 German Africa Prize in recognition of her pioneering work in transforming school feeding and improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Kenya. Nyima Jadama reports from the award ceremony, held in Berlin last Wednesday.
The German Africa Foundation honoured Wawira Njiru for her innovative work through Food4Education, an organization that has redefined school feeding by linking nutrition with education and local economic development. At just 35 years old, Njiru has built one of Africa’s most impactful school nutrition initiatives. Today, Food4Education provides approximately 730,000 children across Kenya with nutritious and affordable meals every day, helping ensure that children can focus on learning rather than worrying about where their next meal will come from.
Extending the impact beyond the classroom
For many families, access to reliable school meals removes a significant burden and creates stronger incentives to keep children in school. Speaking during the award ceremony, jury president Claus Stäcker described Food4Education’s model as both socially responsible and practical. “The business model behind Food4Education is both socially responsible and logical,” he said, noting that Njiru views school feeding not as an isolated intervention but as part of a broader ecosystem that benefits children, families and local businesses alike.
Around 80 percent of the food used in the program is sourced from suppliers and producers within Kenya and the surrounding region. By prioritizing local procurement, the organization has strengthened agricultural value chains and created employment opportunities. To date, Food4Education has generated more than 6,000 jobs and contributed over US$200 million to the Kenyan economy. The organization estimates that local farmers could earn an additional US$150 million in income by 2030 through its growing network.
In her speech, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Alabali Radovan, highlighted the broader significance of Njiru’s work, describing a school meal as “much more than just a plate of food.” “It is an investment in the future of entire societies,” she said, pointing to the long-term, scalable systems that Food4Education has created, not only in Kenya but also as a model that could be adapted elsewhere.
How solutions developed on the continent can have global relevance
Wawira Njiru used the occasion to advocate for greater recognition of home-grown African innovation. She challenged outdated assumptions about development by emphasizing that solutions developed on the continent can have global relevance. “African solutions can serve as a blueprint not only for Africa, but for the entire world,” she said.
With Africa’s population continuing to grow rapidly, Njiru stressed the importance of investing in young people and creating opportunities for their economic participation. She argued that meaningful partnerships must be built on local knowledge, mutual respect and shared learning.
The German Africa Prize has been awarded annually by the German Africa Foundation (DAS) since 1993. It recognises individuals from African countries whose work has made an exceptional contribution to areas including democracy, peace, human rights, sustainable development, research, innovation and social development. Winners are selected by an independent 20-member jury, with the award traditionally presented by a senior German political figure at a ceremony held in Berlin.
