Six Kenyan photographers and videographers have been named the inaugural winners of the Safaricom and M‑Pesa Foundations Capture the Good Challenge and will share a total prize of KES 4.5 million. In the photography category Mathew Meli from Uasin Gishu took the overall prize while Charles Muia from Embu and Lameck Ododo from Kericho received first and second runner‑up honours respectively. The overall winners in each category received KES 1 million, the first runners‑up KES 750 000 and the second runners‑up KES 500 000.
In the videography category Kennedy Kamau from West Pokot won the top award for his piece The Dream of Poriot. David Mutuku from Kajiado and Phillip Otieno from Nairobi were named first and second runner‑up for their works A Clinic in Kajiado is Helping Bring New Life and What These Hands Built. The awards ceremony took place at the Mövenpick Hotel in Nairobi and marked the end of the five‑month nationwide Capture the Good Challenge.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said that Capture the Good showcases considerable talent in Kenya’s creative community and the power of storytelling to bring impact to life. He added that by giving photographers and videographers a platform to showcase their craft the initiative invests in the creative economy and enables communities to share their transformation stories in their own way. He also noted that the challenge sharpens skills and tells authentic Kenyan stories while celebrating positive developments across the country.
The Capture the Good Challenge launched in May 2026 invited storytellers to document transformation stories in education health and economic empowerment. It attracted 6 014 applications and 2 185 participants proceeded to fieldwork submitting 1 155 entries for judging. From those entries 360 advanced to the regional stage where 45 photographers and 45 videographers were named regional winners. The 90 finalists attended a two‑day masterclass led by Grace Kahaki Enos Olik Mbithi Masya and Mutua Matheka. After the masterclass they resubmitted their work and 18 were shortlisted for voting which closed on August 30 2026 before the winners were unveiled at the awards ceremony.
Besides the national awards the Capture the Good Challenge recognised regional talent with 30 gold winners receiving KES 100 000 each 30 silver winners receiving KES 75 000 each and 30 bronze winners receiving KES 50 000 each. The initiative was delivered in partnership with the Photographers Association of Kenya the Photojournalists Association of Kenya and with vivo as the mobile photography partner.