UNFPA Kenya Country Office is pleased to announce the winners of the Three Zeros Photo Competition which was launched earlier this year. 

More than 600 images were submitted by youth from counties all across Kenya. The photos were taken from within their communities, capturing moments and activities showing women and girls, healthcare workers, young people, law enforcement, community leaders, and others working towards ZERO unmet need for family planning, ZERO preventable maternal deaths, and ZERO gender based violence and harmful practices such as FGM. 

Nine winners were awarded in the three categories, at a ceremony held on 6th December, 2021. The winning entries were recognized for inspiring images that demonstrated creativity, powerful storytelling, and talent in illustrating these issues. 

Zero GBV and Harmful Practices Category

1st Place: Moses Thuranira, Isiolo County

Reformed circumciser championing an end to FGM

Isiolo county has a high FGM prevalence rate, but thanks to efforts from local chiefs and law enforcement, as well as advocacy from civil society and community-based organizations,  reformed circumcisers such as Nosuruai Lesurmat (pictured) are downing their tools and becoming champions against FGM. "As one of the leading circumcisers in her village, Nosuruai carried out FGM on more than 50 girls. I was moved by her story of change which shows that our country is on the road to eliminating FGM for good," says 1st Place winner Moses Thuranira. 

2nd Place: Julius Wainaina, Nairobi County 

Ending child marriage and teen pregnancy

"This photo portrays a common occurrence in my community, Mukuru Kwa Reuben, where young girls are often lured into early marriage or sexual activities that result in teen pregnancy. We saw an increase in such incidences during the Covid-19 pandemic when schools were closed, leaving girls vulnerable to abuse. The fight to ensure that young girls remain in school and reach their potential is one that I am passionate about. Education is  key to addressing the menace of early marriage and teen pregnancy."

3rd Place: Bill Okinda, Uasin Ngishu County 

How GBV thrives in our societies

"I wanted to illustrate some of the elements that drive gender-based violence in our societies. Poverty can increase women and girls vulnerability to gender-based violence and heighten the risk of abuse. Intimidation of children and false religious beliefs can also be drivers of harmful practices such as child marriage and FGM. "

Zero Unmet Need for Family Planning Category

1st Place: Esau Titus, Migori County 

"Using drama and plays to illustrate the hurdles that come with the unmet need for family planning such as poverty and the struggle for resources is a powerful way to pass the message across in our communities."

2nd Place: Brillian Cherono, West Pokot County

"I took these photos in Kotulpogh Village West Pokot County, during a women empowerment meeting organized by local NGO I-rep Foundation. We were educating women, including young mothers, on the importance of family planning to improve their lives. Many of the women brought their children with them."

3rd Place: Sabela Lekiluai, Samburu County

"I come from a remote area where access to family planning is a challenge. Women have to travel a distance to get to a health facility and information about family planning is scarce. My friends and I formed a youth group aimed at educating young women and girls on modern methods of family planning so as to prevent early and teenage pregnancy. These photos were taken at Laresaro Hospital in Samburu County where we attended a talk on contraceptives and one of us received a family planning injection."

Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths Category

1st Place: Brian Onditi, Uasin Ngishu County

"The photos illustrate expectant women in the community engaged in various activities including ante-natal visits, exercise, and fetching water.  Improving the life of a woman during pregnancy is key to achieving zero preventable maternal deaths."

2nd Place: Anwar Sadat, Nairobi County

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"These photos were taken at Shining Hope for Communities in Kibera, a health facility providing affordable maternal health care to women in the informal settlement."

3rd Place: Marline Atieno, Nairobi County

" I took this photo during a mentorship session at Polycom Development Project, an organization that mentors and walks with teen moms in the Kibera slums, to ensure they have a safe and healthy pregnancy."

The Judging Panel

An independent panel of judges s reviewed the entries received in the photo competition to score them on storytelling, relevance to the category theme, originality, composition, and impact. The judges included: 

• Fidelis Ndung’u, Assistant Director at the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD).
• Emily Opati, Deputy Director for Gender at the State Department for Gender and a member of the Board of Directors at  the Anti-FGM Board.
• Maurice Oniango,  Multimedia Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker
• Pauline Irungu- Policy and Advocacy lead, PATH
• Wangechi Wachira, Executive Director  for Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW ) 
• Mwendwa Kiogora, Communications Officer, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office
• Wambui Kungu, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, NCPD
• Corazon Kisilu , Senior Communications Officer, Kenya Red Cross
• Dr. Anastasia Nyalita, CEO, Kenya Healthcare Federation