By Jeff Kizzilah, Digital Editor
Capturing Nature, Inspiring Action: Safal Eye in the Wild 2026 Honours Africa’s Top Conservation Photographers
Africa’s finest conservation photographers took centre stage as the Safal MRM Foundation celebrated outstanding visual storytellers during the Safal Eye in the Wild 2026 Gala Awards Ceremony held at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi.
The prestigious event recognized photographers whose compelling images have captured the beauty, diversity and vulnerability of Africa’s wildlife, landscapes and ecosystems, demonstrating the transformative power of photography in advancing conservation awareness and environmental stewardship.
Winners were honoured across five categories, receiving the Gold Award (USD 3,000), Silver Award (USD 2,000), Bronze Award (USD 1,000), Public Award (USD 500), and the Amateur/Minor Award (USD 500) to support the winner’s education. The awards celebrated exceptional visual storytelling that inspires communities to value and protect Africa’s natural heritage.
The gala brought together conservation leaders, photographers, environmental advocates, business executives, development partners and members of the creative industry, marking another successful edition of Safal Eye in the Wild. Since its inception, the initiative has grown beyond a photography competition into one of East Africa’s leading conservation and environmental education platforms, nurturing talent while promoting sustainability across the region.
Speaking during the ceremony, Siprosa Rabach, Head of the Safal MRM Foundation, emphasized that the initiative is built on the belief that meaningful conservation begins by helping people connect emotionally with nature.
“Conservation starts when people care, and people care when they connect emotionally with what they see and experience. Safal Eye in the Wild was established to create that connection by using photography to bring nature closer to communities, inspire environmental stewardship and encourage action. Every image recognised tonight is more than a photograph; it is a call to protect the ecosystems, wildlife and biodiversity that define our shared future,” she said.
Rabach noted that the competition demonstrates how private-sector sustainability initiatives can create lasting environmental and social impact by bringing together conservation, creativity and education.
Mabati Rolling Mills Chief Executive Officer Albert Sigei reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustainability, stating that environmental stewardship remains essential to business growth and community prosperity.“For over six decades, Mabati Rolling Mills has grown alongside the communities we serve and the environments that sustain them.
We recognise that the future of business and the future of our planet are inseparable. Safal Eye in the Wild reflects our belief that the private sector has both the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute meaningfully to conservation while supporting innovation, education and creative expression,” Sigei said.
In a special recorded message, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Inger Andersen, commended the initiative for using photography as a powerful tool to inspire conservation, encourage environmental responsibility and amplify the voices of storytellers working to protect nature.
The 2026 Safal Eye in the Wild Awards reinforced the critical role of visual storytelling in shaping public understanding of environmental challenges while inspiring collective action to conserve Africa’s biodiversity for future generations.
