Six Kenyan Creators Win KSh 4.5 Million for Stories of Community Impact in Capture the Good Challenge

Six Kenyan photographers and videographers have won a combined KSh 4.5 million in the inaugural Capture the Good Challenge, a nationwide initiative by Safaricom and the M-PESA Foundation that invited creators to document stories of community impact through photography and videography.

The winners were announced at the National Awards Ceremony in Nairobi, marking the culmination of a five-month competition that attracted 6,014 applications from across the country. The challenge focused on stories of change in education, health and economic empowerment, highlighting the people, projects and initiatives making a difference in their communities.

 In the photography category, Mathew Meli from Uasin Gishu emerged as the overall winner for his work documenting improvements in school infrastructure. Charles Muia from Embu was named first runner-up for his story on the provision of laboratory equipment, while Lameck Ododo from Kericho took second runner-up for his work highlighting the kitting of Kapkatet Football Club.

In videography, Kennedy Kamau from West Pokot won the top prize for The Dream of Poriot, a story exploring the role of school infrastructure in education. David Mutuku from Kajiado was named first runner-up for A Clinic in Kajiado is Helping Bring New Life, which highlights access to medical care, while Phillip Otieno from Nairobi took second runner-up for What These Hands Built, documenting a ball-making project linked to economic empowerment.

The overall winners in photography and videography each received KSh 1 million. The first runners-up received KSh 750,000 each, while the second runners-up received KSh 500,000 each. The top three positions in both categories also received vivo devices, with the two overall winners receiving the vivo X300 Pro, the two first runners-up receiving the vivo V70 5G, and the two second runners-up receiving a vivo Pad each.

The competition drew 2,185 participants into the fieldwork stage, with 1,155 entries submitted for judging. A total of 360 entries advanced to the regional stage, which produced 90 winners, 45 photographers and 45 videographers. These creators were recognized across Gold, Silver and Bronze categories, with 30 winners in each category. Gold winners received KSh 100,000 each. Silver winners received KSh 75,000 each, and Bronze winners received KSh 50,000 each.

The 90 regional winners also took part in the Capture the Good Masterclass, which brought together industry professionals to share practical skills in photography, filmmaking, mobile storytelling and other areas of creative development. As the campaign's Official Imaging Partner and exclusive mobile handset partner, vivo contributed through the vivo ZEISS Photography Masterclass, led by photographer, cinematographer and trainer Victor Nigel. The session explored photography techniques, including light, composition, perspective and the use of mobile imaging tools to communicate a story more effectively.

Following the regional stage and masterclass, 18 national finalists, nine photographers and nine videographers, progressed to the final phase of the competition. The finalists were awarded vivo V70 FE smartphones as part of the campaign's recognition of their achievement.

Public voting closed on 30 August 2026, ahead of the national winners' announcement. The final awards brought together the creators whose work documented change across the country, from improvements in school facilities and access to healthcare to community initiatives supporting livelihoods.

Capture the Good was delivered in partnership with the Photographers Association of Kenya (PAK) and the Photojournalists Association of Kenya (PJAK), with vivo serving as the campaign's mobile imaging partner. The initiative provided a platform for Kenyan creators to bring community stories into the public eye while celebrating the role of visual storytelling in documenting positive change.

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