The Kenya National Entrepreneurs Savings Trust (KNEST) received two 2026 Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards, being named Best Non-Profit Project in a Developing Country and Best Non-Profit Project for Under-Served Communities.
The award winners were announced on May 28, 2026 by a 23-member international judging panel that evaluated finalists from 41 countries across 17 categories.
“This recognition is a powerful affirmation of KNEST’s mission to ensure that every Kenyan, regardless of how they earn a living, has an opportunity to retire with dignity,” said Rose Kwena, Chief Executive Officer of KNEST.
KNEST was created by the National Treasury in 2023 to close the retirement savings gap for more than 18 million informal sector workers, who represent about 84 per cent of Kenya’s workforce.
The scheme uses technology-enabled solutions, allowing contributions via mobile phones and USSD on basic devices, with a minimum deposit of KSh0.40 and no penalties for intermittent saving.
Judges highlighted that providing retirement security for self-employed and informal workers is a pressing public-policy challenge for developing economies, especially as gig and freelance work expands globally.
The dual awards underscore KNEST’s growing role in promoting financial inclusion, encouraging long-term saving and supporting national efforts to reduce old-age poverty among Kenyan households.
