Eight Kenyan photographers have emerged as winners in the inaugural Tembea Kenya Capture Magical Kenya Photography Contest, a nationwide competition aimed at showcasing the country’s hidden tourism gems. The contest, organized by the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), focused on off-the-beaten-track destinations, urban landscapes, and cultural heritage, attracting thousands of entries from across the country.
The competition, which received an impressive 3,860 submissions, sought to involve Kenyans in promoting lesser-known tourist destinations in their home counties. From the total entries, 280 photographs advanced to the final round, with 80 being exhibited in a showcase of Kenya’s diverse landscapes and attractions across 30 counties.
Speaking at the awards ceremony held on Tuesday, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano emphasized the government’s commitment to diversifying Kenya’s tourism sector. She noted that many destinations across the country remain undiscovered by both local and international travelers.
“Our work is to set up forums like this one to help market Kenya as a destination. This forum gave us an opportunity to tap into the talents of Kenyans, especially the youth,” Miano said. “Each young person or photographer is a potential ambassador we can use to market and promote our tourism offerings.”
The competition featured eight categories, each designed to highlight a different aspect of Kenya’s tourism industry. These included hidden gems, wildlife, cultural heritage, landscapes, people, adventure, urban vibes, and sustainable travel. The winners in each category received cash prizes, with the first-place winners taking home Ksh150,000, second-place winners receiving Ksh70,000, and third-place winners awarded Ksh30,000.
The top winners were:
- Hidden Gems: Leah Mureithi
- Sustainable Travel: Carol Kuyo
- People: Samuel Kisamwa
- Adventure: Dalton Odemba
- Urban Vibes: Mutahi Chiira
- Cultural Heritage: Felix Okaka
- Landscape: Geoffrey Bagaka
- Wildlife: Solomon Ngari
KTB Chairman Francis Gichaba praised the initiative for engaging local communities and encouraging domestic tourism. “The contest sought to tap into domestic tourists and Kenyans living near hidden gems to inform the wider public of destinations that they should visit,” he said.
KTB CEO June Chepkemei added that the competition proved the power of citizen-driven tourism promotion. “There is no better way to market Kenya than by letting Kenyans themselves showcase their country,” she noted.
With tourism being a key driver of Kenya’s economy, initiatives like this contest highlight the potential of photography in transforming how destinations are marketed. As the winners celebrate their achievements, their images will serve as a lasting testament to Kenya’s rich and diverse beauty.
