James Madahana Nandi
James Madahana Nandi is a Kenyan public administrator and Assistant County Commissioner widely celebrated for his innovative, youth-led peacebuilding and community development efforts. While a student at Moi University in Eldoret, he organized a landmark 170 km peace walk from Eldoret to Kakamega ahead of the 2012 elections, fostering dialogue to prevent violence. This initiative inspired the formation of Peace Ambassadors Kenya (PAK)—a youth platform that now runs peace clubs in tertiary institutions, coordinates forums, community dialogues, peace walks, and drives environmental initiatives such as mass tree planting. Under his leadership, PAK has promoted peaceful co-existence in conflict-prone areas including Samburu, West Pokot, Turkana, Migori, Meru, Nandi, and more.
In recognition of these contributions, particularly his impact through PAK, James Nandi was honored on Mashujaa Day 2024 for peacekeeping and community transformation. His tangible, compassionate approach to public service—blending grassroots engagement, environmental stewardship (e.g., planting thousands of trees), and institutional outreach—helped earn him a spot in Business Daily’s Top 40 Under 40 (men), acknowledging his leadership in social impact and civil service innovation.