KENYA: Brother Peter Tabichi Named UN Person of the Year

NAIROBI, OCTOBER 25, 2019 (CISA)-Brother Peter Mokaya Tabichi was on October 24 named United Nations-Kenya Person of the Year during the United Nations day celebrations in Nairobi.

This is his second award this year after the 2019 Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Award re received in March.

“It is indeed a great honor and privilege for me. I thank God for his blessings…this award is not about me, it’s about all teachers and other people everywhere, shining a light on their work so that their stories can be told,” Bro Tabichi said in his address after receiving the award.

Bro Tabichi, a Mathematics and Physics teacher at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Nakuru.

Director of United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Regional Office for Eastern Africa, Ann Therese Ndong Jatta said that the award demonstrates the commitment of UNESCO on sustainable development goals (SDGs) by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

“And in the form in which we have worked it demonstrates that being a teacher is not limiting you to the classroom. And today the one simple message I want to leave, is that SDGs in Africa, in Kenya, the face of that is mwalimu Brother Peter Tabichi,” she said.

This comes a day after Mr Erick Ademba, a mathematics and chemistry teacher at Asumbi Girls High School,Kenya was among three African teachers to get Africa Union award for their outstanding performance.

Mr Ademba received a certificate and $10,000 (Sh1 million) at a ceremony held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on October 23.

Speaking after getting the award, Mr Ademba, said the prize promotes the image of teaching on the African continent, while motivates African teachers to be innovative.

“The award will improve teaching image since teachers in Africa will feel recognized,” said Mr Ademba.

The others were Augusta Lartey-Young, from Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School in Ghana and Gladys K from Uganda.