Kenya's Chief Justice and 3 others named on Africa's Most Influential list for 2017

godfred akoto

December 11, 2017 10:04 AM

The New African Magazine list is among the most influential on the continent

Kenyas Chief Justice David Maraga has been named among Africas 100 most influential persons for 2017 by the New African Magazine.

Maraga's handling of Kenya's disputed election has gained him worldwide respect and he has now become one of the world's most sought after jurists.

The editor of the influential magazine Anver Versi explained the rationale behind the nominees for the 2017 list.

“Our criteria for “influential” this year was a fairly simple one – it is applied to people whose work or activity has had some sort of transformative effect outside their main calling. This effect results in a change of perception or provides inspiration to others. Many in our selection have shattered the proverbial glass-ceilings or disability stigma and do so with great bravery, determination and personal sacrifice. Others yield economic power that impacts world markets,”.

Justice Maraga was not the only Kenyan to make the list. Ijara MP Sophia Abdi Noor, who became the first woman from the North East to be elected as MP was also named to the list.

Africa Food Prize Winer Prf.Ruth Oniang'o and Centum Investment boss James Mworia also made the list.

Out of entries from 31 countries, 12 came from Francophone Africa with Nigeria topping the nomination list with 21 entries. South Africa came second with 14 names.

Renowned business gurus such as Nigeria's Aliko Dangote, Tanzania's Mohammed Dewji Angola’s Isabel dos Santos and Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais were named in the Business and Finance category.

The list also had a Deafblind Harvard University law graduate activist, a teen dance troop from a Ugandan, and a Mauritanian modern-day slavery abolitionist hero.

Some popular new entries included the Triplets Ghetto Kids dance troop from Uganda, Ghanaian born new Editor of British Vogue Edward Kobina Enninful and Nigerian-British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie made a return in the Arts and Culture category but she was joined by Ghana's Adwoa Aboah and Hijab wearing Somali top model Halima Aden.

godfred akoto