As the world prepares to mark World Sight Day on 8th October 2026, eye health advocates are pointing to a simple fact: many children who seem to be struggling at school are struggling to see. They find it difficult reading their books or taking notes, and they can barely read what is written on the blackboard.

Data from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) shows that uncorrected refractive error is the leading cause of vision impairment in children. In Tanzania it accounts for an estimated 27,178 years of lost schooling every year.

The same data shows the cost of that loss. A child whose vision problem is identified at age five and corrected with quality glasses through to age 18 could see their lifetime earnings rise by 124%, in effect doubling them. Tanzania is one of 23 countries where IAPB found this to be the case.

Eye health experts often say that about 80% of learning is visual. Children read the board, follow text and copy notes with their eyes. When vision is blurred, a bright child can be mistaken for a slow one, or one who isn’t trying.

"A child who can’t see the board can easily be mistaken for a child who isn’t learning,” said Anadine Marshall, Programs Director at CharityVision International. “A simple vision screening can identify a problem that might otherwise go unnoticed for years.”

Vision barriers can affect any child’s education, and if they go unaddressed, the effects can last a lifetime. Children who fall behind early may repeat classes, lose confidence or leave school sooner, all of which can limit their future earning power.

Tanzania’s Ministry of Health has recognised child eye health as a priority.

In 2019 it added eye health to the country’s Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) strategy, and more than 3,500 primary health care workers have since been trained under IMNCI, including its eye health module.

Ministry data cited in the Community Eye Health Journal indicates these health workers see an average of 5.8 million children a year, which could mean identifying nearly 250,000 children with eye problems annually.

That is a large number of children who need follow-up care, and it shows why reaching them early matters.

Behind these figures are children like Ahmed Ally and Consolatha David.

Ahmed, 16, from Zanzibar, lived for years with a blurred view of the world beyond arm’s length. He struggled to read the blackboard, and his family could not afford eye care.

Learning became so difficult that he had to repeat several classes. Then a school eye-screening team visited his school and screened his vision for the first time.

They found high myopia and referred him for an examination and a prescription. When he put on his first pair of glasses, his teachers celebrated with him. Today, he can follow his lessons and take part in class with renewed confidence.

Consolatha, 8, dreams of becoming a doctor. When she couldn’t see the board, she assumed the problem was her seat, and her teacher moved her to the front. It didn’t help.

Her teacher told her parents she needed glasses, but they could not afford eye care and told her to stay home.

Then the SightBuddies school screening programme arrived at Chibelela Sokoine Primary School, one of the first schools it visited. Her mother brought her to the free screening, where she received the glasses she needed. She is back in school, seeing her lessons clearly and working toward her dream.

SightBuddies: taking eye care to the classroom

SightBuddies is a school-focused vision screening initiative run by CharityVision. It provides free or low-cost prescription glasses and eye care to children, reaching them where they already are: in school.

For families who cannot afford or reach an eye clinic, a screening at school can be the first step.

"By reaching children at school and providing glasses when they need them, we can remove a simple barrier that can make an enormous difference in their education, confidence, and future,” Marshall said.

A call to act

IAPB Chief Executive Peter Holland said a simple eye test and glasses “could be one of the best investments a parent can make for their child’s future”. He urged governments to ensure every child has access to sight tests and glasses.

Sumrana Yasmin, Technical Director for Inclusive Health at Sightsavers, said investing in eye tests and glasses is about “unlocking potential, transforming lives, and ensuring no child is left behind.”

This World Sight Day, parents who can are encouraged to have their children’s eyes tested, and schools and communities are urged to support screening. As Ahmed’s and Consolatha’s stories show, one screening and one pair of glasses can change what a child sees and what they imagine for their future.

Principal Secretary for Children Services Carren Ageng’o has called on schools, parents, county governments and the private sector to strengthen environmental conservation efforts, saying lasting change must begin with children and young people.

Speaking during the launch of the fourth edition of the First Lady’s Mazingira Awards (FLAMA) in Miritini, Mombasa, on Friday, October 9, 2026, Ageng’o said environmental protection requires collective responsibility and practical action beyond government policies and regulations.

“The multi-sectoral character of FLAMA demonstrates an important truth: environmental conservation is everybody’s responsibility,” she said.

Ageng’o commended First Lady Rachel Ruto for championing the initiative, which promotes environmental conservation, climate action, creativity and innovation among learners.

She said the awards provide an important platform for integrating environmental education into schools, homes and communities, helping young people understand environmental challenges and develop solutions.

“The question before our generation is therefore not whether we should conserve our environment. The question is: What are we doing today to ensure that future generations inherit a healthy, productive and sustainable Kenya?” she posed.

Calls for practical environmental action

The Principal Secretary said Kenya’s natural resources, including forests, rivers, wetlands, wildlife, oceans and beaches, support livelihoods and economic activities but face growing threats from deforestation, pollution, land degradation, water scarcity and climate change.

She called for environmental education to translate into practical initiatives such as school tree nurseries, rainwater harvesting, school gardens, recycling, energy conservation and active environmental clubs.

“If we want a greener and more resilient Kenya, we must cultivate environmental consciousness early and transform knowledge into action,” Ageng’o said.

She added that the success of FLAMA should not be measured only by the number of entries received or awards presented, but also by tangible environmental improvements in schools and communities.

“It should be measured by the trees that survive, rivers and water sources that are protected, waste that is diverted from our environment, innovations that are developed and communities whose environmental practices change,” she said.

Mombasa’s coastal environment in focus

Ageng’o said Mombasa was an appropriate location for the launch because the Coast demonstrates the close relationship between environmental conservation, livelihoods and economic prosperity.

She noted that marine ecosystems support fisheries, tourism, transport and other economic activities, while mangrove forests protect coastlines, provide breeding grounds for marine life and strengthen climate resilience.

However, she warned that pollution, plastic waste, habitat destruction and climate change continue to threaten these ecosystems.

“Waste does not simply disappear. It travels. It accumulates. And eventually, it affects our ecosystems, our livelihoods and our economy,” she said, calling for responsible waste management and reduced plastic pollution.

She also urged schools and communities to move beyond tree planting and embrace long-term care for seedlings.

“Planting is an activity. Growing is a commitment,” she said, encouraging participants to adopt the principle of “Plant, Nurture and Protect.”

Children urged to become climate champions

The Principal Secretary emphasised that children should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of environmental programmes but as active participants in conservation.

At the State Department for Children Services, she said, children’s participation remains important in ensuring they can express their views, contribute ideas and take part in decisions affecting their lives and communities.

“We must listen to them. We must learn from their creativity. We must support their innovations. And we must give them opportunities to participate meaningfully in conservation,” she said.

Ageng’o challenged learners to take responsibility for environmental protection in their everyday activities, including planting trees, conserving water, avoiding littering and inspiring others to protect nature.

“Do not wait to become leaders before you protect the environment. You are already leaders,” she told the learners.

She added that environmental degradation has direct implications for children’s welfare, noting that drought, floods, polluted water and declining livelihoods can disrupt their health, education and overall wellbeing.

“A healthy environment is therefore one of the foundations upon which children can grow, learn and thrive,” she said.

FLAMA expands school participation

Arnold Kipchumba, Director of Environment and Livelihoods at the Office of the First Lady, said the awards provide learners in primary and junior schools with a platform to express their understanding of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss through art, essay writing and poetry.

“Since then, FLAMA has given learners in primary and junior schools a platform to express, through art, essay writing and poetry, what climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss mean to them, and what they would do about it,” Kipchumba said.

He noted that the programme goes beyond recognising winners, with participants encouraged to become environmental champions in their schools and communities.

Kipchumba cited the example of Sasha Chepkoech Ng’eny, who planted her first tree at the age of five and has since participated in school tree-planting initiatives and written a book about her journey.

He said the programme seeks to identify and nurture young environmental advocates from across Kenya’s 47 counties.

According to Elizabeth Koskei, Chief Executive Officer of Joyful Women Organization, FLAMA participation has grown significantly since its launch in 2023, when 500 schools took part, compared with 3,500 schools in the previous edition.

Koskei urged teachers and head teachers to continue mobilising learners through 4K and Environment Clubs, encouraging creativity and practical environmental responsibility.

“Climate action can sometimes sound like something too big for an ordinary person to do. But it begins with very ordinary choices,” she said, citing tree planting, proper waste disposal, water and electricity conservation, and recycling as actions learners can embrace.

New timeline for the awards

Kipchumba said the organisers had adjusted the FLAMA calendar to give learners more time to develop their entries and align the competition with the school calendar.

School registration on the FLAMA portal, www.flama.go.ke, opens immediately after the launch. Learners are expected to begin submitting entries in January 2027, with submissions closing in April.

The winners are scheduled to be celebrated in June 2027, coinciding with the month in which World Environment Day is observed.

The awards welcome creative submissions in English and Kiswahili, as well as Braille and Kenyan Sign Language, supporting the participation of learners with diverse abilities.

Kipchumba called on schools across the country, including special schools, special units and inclusive schools, to register and participate.

Stakeholders urged to support FLAMA

Ageng’o called on schools and teachers to integrate environmental action into everyday learning, parents to reinforce responsible practices at home, and county governments to support community conservation and young environmental innovators.

She also urged the private sector to invest in green innovation, recycling, renewable energy and environmental education, while calling on development partners, civil society and the media to support conservation initiatives and highlight environmental champions.

“As Government, we remain committed to working with the Office of the First Lady and all stakeholders to advance a cleaner, greener, healthier and more resilient Kenya,” she said.

The initiative is supported by partners including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the Kenya Forest Service, the Kenya Primary School Heads Association, the Kenya National Union of Teachers, NCBA Group and Kenya Pipeline Company.

Koskei thanked NCBA for supporting learners through the opening of 38 junior savings accounts, linking financial awareness with the importance of investing in the future. She also acknowledged Kenya Pipeline Company for providing mangrove seedlings and the Kenya Forest Service for identifying and preparing the planting site.

The launch was held ahead of Mazingira Day, marked annually on October 10, under the theme “Mazingira Yetu, Jukumu Letu” — Our Environment, Our Responsibility.

Ageng’o concluded by urging Kenyans to take collective responsibility for protecting the environment for future generations.

“Because the environment we protect today is the inheritance we bequeath to generations yet unborn,” she said.

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Hassan Omar says preparations for the party’s ward-level elections in Mombasa County have been completed, with the exercise set for Thursday.

Omar said the party has been strengthening its structures in Mombasa and across the country as it seeks to establish a strong grassroots presence ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“Plans for the UDA ward-level elections in Mombasa County are complete. We are set for tomorrow, and we are looking forward to a successful election,” Omar said.

A unique aspect of the elections, according to Omar, is that the officials who will be elected at ward level will be chosen by leaders who have already been assigned to different polling centres.

“This election is unique because it is leaders who will be electing their leaders. Those who will be voting are the leaders who have been assigned to different polling stations,” he said.

UDA has set aside 20 officials to be elected in every ward as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s grassroots leadership and organisational structures.

Omar said the process is intended to ensure that UDA establishes representation across the country.

“As a party, we want to have representation everywhere in the country. We have been strengthening our party in the county and the country at large,” he said.

He also assured party members that participation in the exercise would be open to all eligible members under the party’s electoral arrangements.

“No one will be stopped from voting, as long as you are a party member,” Omar said.

The UDA Secretary General said the successful completion of the grassroots elections would further strengthen the party’s structures at ward and polling-centre level.

The elections form part of UDA’s wider grassroots mobilisation and organisational efforts ahead of the 2027 General Election. UDA had initially scheduled the Mombasa polls for October 3 but later moved them to October 8, citing the ongoing Presidential Development Tour and related official engagements

More than 70 medical specialists and health professionals will converge in Lamu County from 25th to 30 January 2027 for a week-long free specialist surgical camp aimed at expanding access to essential surgical care while strengthening the county’s healthcare system.

The initiative, led by Rotary District 9216, the Surgical Society of Kenya (SSK), and the Lamu County Government, will bring together specialists from across Kenya to work alongside county health teams and provide treatment to patients who may otherwise face lengthy waits or significant financial barriers to accessing specialist care.

The organisers expect to screen more than 1,500 people, conduct over 800 specialist assessments and perform approximately 500 surgical procedures during the camp.

The specialist team will include general surgeons, neurosurgeons, ophthalmic surgeons, gynaecologists, paediatric surgeons, urologists, anaesthetists and other healthcare professionals. Procedures are expected to include neurosurgery, cataract and glaucoma surgery, fistula repair, paediatric surgery and other general surgical procedures.

Bringing Specialist Care Closer to Communities

For residents of Lamu County, accessing specialist treatment can involve more than simply reaching a hospital. Transport, accommodation, specialist consultations and treatment costs can place healthcare beyond the reach of families already living on limited incomes

The January camp is intended to reduce these barriers by bringing specialist services closer to communities across the county.

The communities being reached will extend beyond Lamu Island to Lamu East, Mokowe, Mpeketoni, Lamu West, Hindi, Witu and surrounding areas.

Lamu County health teams will support patient identification, community mobilisation and referrals. The county is encouraging residents with surgical conditions, people awaiting surgery and those requiring specialist assessment to come forward, including patients without medical cover.For patients who receive treatment, the impact could extend well beyond the operating theatre. Successful surgery can enable people to return to work, resume caring for their families and reduce the financial and emotional burden associated with untreated conditions.

Strengthening Lamu’s Health Workforce

While providing immediate treatment is a major objective, organisers say the camp is also designed to strengthen Lamu’s healthcare system for the future.

Visiting specialists will work alongside county surgeons, clinicians, nurses and theatre teams. Through mentorship, skills sharing and hands-on learning, local health professionals will gain exposure to specialist surgical techniques and practices.
Medical students and trainees will also have opportunities to learn from the visiting specialists.

Rotarian Mwende Mulinge, Disease Prevention and Treatment Lead for Rotary District 9216, said the initiative is intended to create an impact that continues after the surgical team leaves.

“This camp is about creating lasting impact beyond the operating theatre.”

She said providing surgery to people who might otherwise be unable to afford it can help reduce the anxiety and financial burden associated with waiting for treatment, while enabling patients to return to work, support their families and contribute to their livelihoods.
Fourth Camp Under the Rotary–SSK Partnership

The Lamu camp is the fourth specialist surgical camp delivered through the Rotary–SSK partnership.

Previous camps have been held in Narok in 2023, Makueni in 2024 and Homa Bay in 2025.

In Narok, 385 patients were screened and 281 surgeries were performed. In Makueni, 1,434 people were screened and 511 surgeries undertaken, while Homa Bay recorded 621 people screened and 256 surgeries.

The camps have also provided useful information about community health needs. In Makueni, specialists identified more than 40 patients with thyroid or goitre conditions. The unusually high number prompted the county to investigate the prevalence and possible causes of goitre in the area.

This demonstrates how specialist surgical camps can serve not only as a way of addressing treatment backlogs, but also as an opportunity to generate information that can help counties understand health challenges, strengthen referral systems and identify areas requiring further attention.
Towards a Sustainable Model

Rotary District 9216 and the Surgical Society of Kenya hope to develop a model capable of supporting at least three specialist surgical camps each year in counties where unmet need is greatest.

The long-term goal is to combine specialist treatment with mentorship, health data, skills transfer and county-led follow-up.

For Lamu, the January initiative will provide immediate access to specialist care while contributing to the development of local capacity.

The organisers say the ultimate measure of success will not simply be the number of operations completed. It will also be whether patients are able to live and work more independently, whether healthcare workers gain skills that remain in the county, and whether Lamu has better information and systems to respond to future surgical needs.

The Lamu Specialist Surgical Camp will take place from 25–30 January 2027.

Wine knowledge is increasingly becoming an important component of professional service in Kenya’s hospitality and tourism industry, with industry players calling for greater investment in training to enhance customer experience.

This was the focus of a wine training session held at Kiota Suites in Bamburi, Mombasa, bringing together 25 Crystal Frozen Foods (CFCF) team members who work as Brand Ambassadors across the Coast.

The training was facilitated by renowned wine educator and consultant Wanjiru Mureithi, who is contracted to provide wine education to Crystal Frozen Foods teams and its trade customers.

According to Mureithi, the training was designed to go beyond simply teaching participants about particular wine brands, with a greater focus on improving their overall wine knowledge and ability to engage customers.

“It goes beyond product training. The objective is to elevate the wine experience by giving people the knowledge and confidence to understand, recommend and sell wine better,” said Mureithi.

Crystal Frozen Foods imports South African wine brands including Simonsig, Stellenrust and Nabylegelen. Since July, the company has been conducting trade training for its customers in Nairobi, including establishments such as Carnivore, Four Points Sheraton Airport, Dusit Princess and Muthaiga Country Club, as well as consumer events at ArtCaffe.

Mureithi said the decision to bring the training to Mombasa was aimed at ensuring coastal hospitality establishments and teams also benefit from the growing emphasis on wine education.

“This October, it was important to include coastal establishments such as Tamarind Mombasa, Voyager Resort, Serena Mombasa, Cafesserie and CharChoma,” she said.

The Mombasa session also brought together the Nairobi and Coast teams of Crystal Frozen Foods’ Business Advisors, who were taken through different wines within the company’s portfolio.

The Brand Ambassadors, who are stationed in supermarkets, liquor stores and other retail outlets across the Coast and also support deliveries, were selected because wine knowledge forms part of their core professional competence.

“Training is a critical component of empowering staff to deliver on their targets. If you are selling a product, you need to understand that product,” Mureithi said.

Participants were introduced to different aspects of wine, including producer knowledge, wine styles, grape varieties, regions and the fundamentals of wine tasting.

The training covered South African producers such as Simonsig and Stellenrust, as well as the Stellenbosch wine region and the wider South African wine industry.

Participants also explored different wine styles, including sparkling, red, rosé and white wines, as well as wooded and unwooded wines and the characteristics of different grape varieties.

For Mureithi, wine tasting is a structured process rather than an informal exercise.

“There is a systematic way of doing it; it is not random,” she explained. “You start by looking at the wine, then you assess the aromas and finally you evaluate it on the palate.”

She said the first step involves observing the wine’s colour and appearance, including determining whether it is red, rosé or white and whether it is still or sparkling.

The next stage is assessing the aromas, which can help identify whether the wine is sound and provide clues about the grape variety, winemaking style and age of the wine.

On the palate, participants learn to assess sweetness, body, acidity, tannins, flavours, complexity and the wine’s finish.

Mureithi said wine tasting requires practice and should not be mistaken for simply drinking wine.

“One of the misconceptions is that wine tasting is just sherehe. It is actual work,” she said. “It can be overwhelming at first, particularly because alcohol can affect you, but there is a proper process to follow and, like any skill, it takes practice."

The training also touched on basic principles of wine and food pairing, although Mureithi noted that this was not the primary focus because the Brand Ambassadors are principally involved in sales.

She, however, emphasised the importance of knowledge in improving the customer experience across hotels, restaurants and other hospitality establishments.

“The more knowledgeable a staff member is, the more they can sell and the better they can give customers an elevated experience,” she said.

Mureithi also stressed the importance of proper wine storage, particularly in a warm and humid coastal environment.

“Wine should be stored in a cool, dark place. Temperature variation is a huge consideration in a coastal area,” she said.

With Mombasa remaining and the larger Coast region a major tourism destination attracting both domestic and international visitors, Mureithi believes wine knowledge can create new opportunities for young professionals in the hospitality sector.

“Mombasa is a hot tourism destination with local and international tourists. They expect the same level of diversity of wines and great service as they would find in larger cities or internationally,” she said.

She noted that opportunities exist not only in wine service but also in education, sales and the broader sommelier profession.

Mureithi further pointed to the work of the Sommeliers of Kenya Association (SOKA), an initiative seeking to strengthen the sommelier profession in Kenya and take it beyond basic wine service and stewardship.

“SOKA seeks to grow the sommelier profession beyond wine service and stewardship. The goal is to elevate the skills and knowledge of people working in the trade to international standards,” she said.

She added that continued investment in structured training would be important in ensuring Kenya’s hospitality industry keeps pace with international standards.

For Mureithi, the growing interest in wine education represents an opportunity to build a more knowledgeable workforce while giving customers a better and more sophisticated hospitality experience.

“Wine knowledge is part of the core competence for many people working in this industry. The more we invest in that knowledge, the better the service, the better the sales and ultimately the better the experience for the customer.”

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has announced plans to recruit 447 health professionals on short-term contracts to address a surge in patients following the county government’s decision to provide free health services throughout October.

Nassir said the initiative has received an overwhelming response, with health facilities recording a significant increase in the number of patients, including residents from outside Mombasa County.

“We declared the whole month of October that health services will be free, and I am proud to announce that the response has been overwhelming. We are getting a good response, and we have seen a surge of people from even outside Mombasa,” Nassir said.

The Governor said the increased demand had prompted the county to seek additional personnel to support health facilities experiencing pressure due to the rising number of patients.

“We have received requests for extra personnel, and we are going to be increasing personnel. They will be on short-term contracts, with 447 professionals to be taken on board,” he said.

Nassir said the county would move quickly to fill the staffing gaps rather than undertake a lengthy recruitment process for the short-term positions.

“There is no time for us to say we are going to advertise for this. When the time comes when we are going to take professionals for the long term, we will advertise,” he said.

The Governor also assured residents that the county has adequate supplies of medicines to support the increased number of patients seeking treatment under the initiative.

“We have enough medicines,” Nassir said, while noting that the number of patients being attended to has increased significantly.

“The number of patients we are currently seeing is more than four times,” he added.

Despite the positive response, Nassir acknowledged that the increased demand has created challenges for some health facilities, with some being forced to operate for longer hours to cope with the influx.

“There have been a few challenges, like some facilities working extra hours due to the surge in patients,” he said.

He further identified challenges associated with the Social Health Authority (SHA) system, saying the county was engaging relevant authorities to address the issue and improve service delivery.

“The second challenge is the issue of SHA, and we are currently in discussion with the Digital Authority to help us with more equipment to help cater for all our patients,” Nassir said.

He added that the county was also expecting additional medical equipment, including theatre equipment, to strengthen health facilities and enable them to cope with the increased workload.

“More equipment, like theatre equipment, is to be delivered to help in the situation,” he said.

The free health services programme is part of the county government’s October initiative aimed at increasing access to healthcare for residents while easing the financial burden associated with seeking medical treatment.

Chief Justice Martha Koome joined regional Chief Justices for the opening ceremony of the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices’ (SEACJF) Annual Conference in Zanzibar, attended by the President of Zanzibar, H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi.

The conference themed “Transforming Justice Delivery: Innovation, Efficiency and Court Administration Reform.”

Speaking at the conference, CJ Koome called on African Judiciaries and governments to strengthen the relationship between justice systems and the people they serve, even in the face of resource constraints.

She said this could be achieved through institutional reforms, technology, effective case management and prudent use of available resources.

"Financial independence of Judiciaries means the capacity to determine resource needs, receive allocated funds in a timely and predictable manner, manage them according to judicial priorities, and remain free from improper influence while accounting responsibly for public resources,” she said.

Sharing Kenya’s experience, CJ Koome said the people-centred justice model prioritises citizens’ justice needs over physical infrastructure.

She highlighted initiatives including the e-filing system, virtual courts, the Case Tracking System, Mahakama Popote and multi-door pathways to justice, which have helped make justice more accessible, timely and cost-effective.

Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton has been recognized in Tripadvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards Best of the Best for 2026.

The highest level of Tripadvisor’s awards, the Best of the Best winners are among the top 1% of listings around the world on Tripadvisor.

As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travelers and diners.

This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of travelers’ favorites.

"Being named among Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best 2026 is incredibly meaningful to us because it reflects the experiences and voices of the people who matter most: our guests. We are deeply grateful to every guest who has chosen Kwetu Nairobi and taken the time to share their experience, and equally proud of our team, whose passion and commitment to genuine hospitality bring our philosophy of Our Place, Your Home to life every day. To be counted among travelers’ favorites is an honor we share with all of them,” says Alexandre Glauser, General Manager, Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton.

"Congratulations to Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton on its Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award: Best of the Best win for 2026,” said Laurel Greatrix, Chief Communications Officer, Tripadvisor Group.

“Earning a place among the top percentage of listings globally is no small feat. It reflects the lasting impression made on travelers who took the time to go online and leave a glowing review about their experience. Travelers look to Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best as a trusted guide to the world’s top destinations and experiences. We hope this recognition helps inspire even more visitors in 2026 and beyond!”

Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton has been recognized in Tripadvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards Best of the Best for 2026.

The highest level of Tripadvisor’s awards, the Best of the Best winners are among the top 1% of listings around the world on Tripadvisor.

As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travelers and diners.

This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of travelers’ favorites.

“Being named among Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best 2026 is incredibly meaningful to us because it reflects the experiences and voices of the people who matter most: our guests. We are deeply grateful to every guest who has chosen Kwetu Nairobi and taken the time to share their experience, and equally proud of our team, whose passion and commitment to genuine hospitality bring our philosophy of Our Place, Your Home to life every day. To be counted among travelers’ favorites is an honor we share with all of them,” says Alexandre Glauser, General Manager, Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton.

“Congratulations to Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton on its Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award: Best of the Best win for 2026,” said Laurel Greatrix, Chief Communications Officer, Tripadvisor Group.

“Earning a place among the top percentage of listings globally is no small feat. It reflects the lasting impression made on travelers who took the time to go online and leave a glowing review about their experience. Travelers look to Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best as a trusted guide to the world’s top destinations and experiences. We hope this recognition helps inspire even more visitors in 2026 and beyond!”