Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya, 2023 Exemplary Leader

The Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership invites you to attend a celebration in honor of Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya in recognition of her exemplary work and advocacy to support women and girls in Kenya and around the world. Ntaiya is the founder of the Kakenya Center for Excellence (KCE) with the mission to educate girls and end harmful traditional practices including FGM and child marriage.
Ntaiya earned her PhD in education from the University of Pittsburgh. She is the recipient of many awards and accolades, in 2013 she received the University of Pittsburgh's prestigious Sheth International Achievement Award, given to young alumni for their contributions around the world. She was honored with the Global Women’s Right Award from the Feminist Majority Foundation, was recognized by Women in the World as a “Woman of Impact,” and named a CNN Hero. Kakenya was honored with a Vital Voices Global Leadership award in 2008 and as a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2010. She was named as one of Newsweek’s “150 Women Who Shake the World” in 2011, and was counted among the Women Deliver 100: The Most Inspiring People Delivering for Girls and Women. Learn more at kakenyasdream.org