Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has told government agencies, organisations and individuals nominating Kenyans for this year's national honours to apply strict criteria and thorough vetting, saying the awards should go only to people whose contribution to the country is genuinely exceptional.

Kindiki issued the directive on Wednesday, October 28, after he was briefed by the National Honours Committee at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, on the ongoing process of identifying and vetting potential recipients.

"Directed that nominating agencies, organizations and individuals to adhere to strict criteria and vetting to ensure only the most deserving and extraordinary get to be nominated," he said in a statement.

Merit over position

The Deputy President said the process must identify people whose service, sacrifice and extraordinary contributions merit national recognition, and warned against favouritism and the nomination of undeserving people.

His remarks signal that nominations should rest on what individuals have actually done for the country rather than on the offices they hold or their social standing. Honours lists have in past years drawn public criticism for including politicians, officials and loyalists alongside ordinary citizens with notable records of service.

The briefing brought together representatives of the national and county governments, the Judiciary, Parliament, the public service and the security and defence forces, the bodies that typically submit names for consideration.

How the honours work

The honours are conferred by the President under the National Honours Act, 2013, which sets up advisory committees to consider candidates and make recommendations. Section 4 of the Act ties eligibility to notable contributions or achievements that benefit Kenya.

The main awards include:

  • The Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya, the highest honour, in the classes of Chief (CGH), Elder (EGH) and Moran (MGH)
  • The Order of the Burning Spear, in the classes CBS, EBS and MBS
  • The Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW)
  • The Head of State's Commendation (HSC), alongside other decorations and medals

Areas of recognition include public service, leadership, security, education, sports and community development.

Jamhuri Day awards

President William Ruto is expected to confer the 2026 honours on December 12, during Jamhuri Day celebrations, according to Kenyans.co.ke.

A separate process under the Kenya Heroes Act, 2014 allows members of the public and institutions to nominate individuals for recognition as national heroes. The National Heroes Council assesses those candidates against criteria covering 14 areas, among them the liberation struggle, the arts, sports, research, peace-making, human rights and environmental conservation.

Kindiki's directive places the burden on nominating bodies to ensure that the names they forward meet the legal threshold before the final list goes to the President.

Photos: Office of the Deputy President via People Daily; Sir. Kevin Macharia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.