Among the 100 most influential people of 2024, in the ranking compiled annually by the American Time magazine, two Kenyans appear simultaneously for the first time: the President of the Republic, William Ruto, and the social entrepreneur Kennedy Odede.

If for the Kenyan leader it is an acknowledgement due to the skill with which he has managed to turn the spotlight on his country, starting with the echo of the Nairobi environment conference and the decisive push for the African Union's entry into the G20, for Odede, a former street child from the Kibebe slum who has set up one of Africa's most important solidarity organisations, it is a sort of consecration for the work he has done.

Here is the motivation that brought Ruto to the elite of the personalities of the year chosen by Time, which also includes our Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.

"Kenyan President William Ruto has emerged as a key voice for Africa's climate ambitions, hosting a summit in Nairobi last September that drew leaders from around the world. The event concluded with a unanimous agreement by the African countries present for a rapid expansion of renewable energy over the next decade, with the help of a $23 billion pledge to catalyse the continent's climate goals. His call for lenders to ease the debt burden of some African countries, paving the way for spending on climate solutions, also caused a stir. But Ruto's new prominence on the international stage comes amid significant challenges in Kenya, including last summer's protests against the rising cost of living and the gas tax hike that Ruto championed, and January's demonstrations against allegations of judicial interference. To continue to make progress abroad, Ruto will also have to manage challenges at home'.

Actress and activist Salma Hayek moved on Odede to justify her motivation for inclusion among the 100 most influential people of 2024.

"Kennedy is living proof that individuals can lead themselves and their communities out of poverty. His background - a refugee growing up without formal education in Kibera, one of Kenya's largest slums - gives him a deep understanding of his community and others like it. His work has earned him the trust and admiration of all those around him. Kennedy finds ingenious solutions: schools for vulnerable girls, training programmes for men to combat domestic violence, safe houses for survivors, community libraries, employment programmes, innovative clean water kiosks, a community cooperative bank. There is no challenge he does not accept. It is an unstoppable force for justice. This dream of hope, which began more than 20 years ago in his home in Kibera, has reached more than 3 million Kenyans and is fast becoming a project that will one day hopefully reach the whole world: a movement for change led by the people themselves'.

To read who the other 97 are, click here: https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2024/