Over 150 Leading firms and 10 professionals in Eastern Africa were honoured with a major international SMEs and Mid-sized firms International Award Dubbed the Pacesetters Awards.
The awards were organized by Jubilant Stewards of Africa, a Non-Governmental Organization that champions the improvement of living standards, social ethics, dignity and empowerment of communities.
This year’s regional awards ceremony was held at Weston Hotel Nairobi Kenya.
It has brought together firms from at least 10 countries in the Eastern Africa region including top SMEs and mid-sized top institutions from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania among other countries.
Pacesetters Award (PSA) is an annual Industry leadership Recognition program organized by Jubilant Stewards of Africa (JSA), a Non-Governmental Organization, to celebrate key industry leaders for their innovation, quality products and service delivery, job creation, exemplary leadership, growing the economy, and transforming the society.
These awards are based on the economic and social impact rather than the balance sheet.
Institutions that partnered with organizers to ensure the success of this year’s Awards include the United SMEs Association Of Kenya, Zoho Corporation, Service Cop Limited Uganda, Robisearch, and Sunflower Event among others.
Brett and Baileys, from Tanzania, emerged the Chief Pacesetters and overall winners.
According to Jared Oundo, Executive Director of Jubilant Stewards of Africa, the Pacesetters Awards Continental Chapter will be held in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania later this year while the intercontinental chapter will be held in either North Carolina or London.
Jubilant Stewards of Africa in partnership with the United SMEs Association of Kenya is organizing a Tech expo that will take place in Nairobi Kenya from the 5th to the 8th of November 2023.
In addition, they are organizing a business trip for all award winners set for next year in either Singapore, Dubai, London, or North Carolina.
Zoho Corporation expressed their excitement to have partnered with Jubilant Stewards of Africa and said that this was only the start of a great cooperation and alliance between the two.
Some of the new entrants in the 2023 Eastern Africa Chapter of the awards include Westland Laser Eye Hospital, MP Shah Hospital, Pekan Real Estates Ltd, Nyeri based - Modern Furniture Pacific, Tours and Travel firm - Spoton Vacations Ltd, Jambo Freight Tanzania, Pembe Flour Mills, Air Travel and Related Studies, Joy Millers and The Mimshack Homes Real Estate firm.
Others are AMG Realtors, Simpet Kenya Ltd- Creative Graphics design and corporate branding solutions provider, Brett and Baileys Limited Tanzania and Eng. Martin David from Tanzania.
Pekans Real Estates CEO Peter Kariuki was the most Inspiring CEO of the year.
Most of the awardees have been conferred with other awards including the Top KPMG 100 Survey and other international awards.
Notable firms that have featured in the Pacesetters Awards Eastern Africa Kenyan Chapter include; Telecommunication giant Safaricom, Ena Coach, Inter Consult Tanzania, City Walk, Avantis Insurance Agency, Certified Homes, Gotovate Africa Safaris Group, GMC place Kitengela, Automotive Doctor Motor Garage, Sung Timber, German Institute of Professional Studies and Joy Millers Limited.
New entrants include; Jambo Freight Ltd Tanzania, Spik N Span Tanzania, and Raphael Logistics Ltd Tanzania.
“Pacesetters Awards considers a range of quantitative and qualitative aspects to determine and honour the winners. A novel survey model was initiated in 2020 for the hyperinflationary environment," said Jared Oundo, Executive Director of Jubilant Stewards of Africa (JSA).
"The model has since been tested and it demonstrated its functionality, elasticity, and robustness. Furthermore, models in various industries such as the financial sector were remodelled to enhance their significance to the current environment, enhance quality and increase the objectivity of results.”
According to Oundo, this year, Jubilant Stewards of Africa in partnership with the United SMEs Association of Kenya are organizing a Tech expo that will take place in Nairobi Kenya from the 5th to the 8th of November 2023.
In addition, they are organizing a business trip for all award winners set for next year in either Singapore, Dubai, London, or North Carolina.
Speaking while receiving their trophy and certificate, CEO Ena Coach Mr Richard Mogire, said:
“We are particularly grateful that you (Jubilant Stewards of Africa) remembered the important role played by the public service vehicle (PSV) sector, which is often overlooked and yet plays a crucial role in society.
"90% of the professional workforce use the PSV sector (Matatu) to move to and from their work areas. And yet, we are considered as failures in the society. This is an encouragement to all staff working under this sector that their profession is equally important.”
Spoton Vacation Ltd, a Kenyan tour and Travel company was recognized as Pacesetters in vacation solutions in the just-concluded Pacesetters Awards (PSA) Kenyan for the year 2023.
The CEO, Mr Mark said;
"Being a young company and already recognized as a Pacesetter is such an honour and a motivation not only to me but also to other young people who are venturing into business.”
Speaking in Nairobi’s Westlands Laser Eye Hospital after being honoured Dr Vaibhav Pednekar, the Founder and CEO of Westlands Laser Eye Hospital said:
"I owe these achievements to my parents, my wife, my family, my friends and my team at Laser eye hospital. My journey as an eye surgeon has been full of struggles and sacrifices but it all becomes worth it when I give vision to blind patients. I dedicate this award to each of the patients whose life I have touched and who deserve to see the world in a better way."
The CEO and Founder of AMG Realtors Limited said:
"It gives me immense pride to announce our recognition and win during The Prestigious Pacesetters Awards Eastern Africa chapter in the Transparent and Timely Property Acquisition category. This award reflects our unwavering commitment to upholding transparency and efficiency in the process of acquiring land."
"Our vision has always been to make land ownership a reality for every Kenyan, ensuring that they have a place they can proudly call home. This international honour is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our exceptional team and our customers who have trusted us to serve them and set the pace in the industry.”
The guest speaker during the 5th Pacesetters Awards Ceremony Prof PLO Lumumba who served as the Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission as well as the Director of The Kenya School of Law, said there is a need for Africa to leverage technology that will reduce over-reliance on European and the Western Nations.
He also said that as much as he celebrates all the awardees, they should not rest but aim at doing better because in our world today, it is survival of the fittest and only the brave and strong survive.
Prof. Lumumba added that Pacesetters Awards was a noble idea in recognizing those who are doing good and they ought to be encouraged to do good.