Henry Kiprono Kirwa of Kenya receives the UN Person of the award for his success in the Paralympics
Each year, the UN System in Kenya selects an individual or institution whose initiative has not attracted a great deal of publicity to them, but is involved in a sector where the UN system of organizations is also a player, who has succeeded in bringing to public notice significant issues related to the Millennium Development Goals, and whose achievements are sustainable and serve as an inspiration to all Kenyans.
The selection of the “UN in Kenya Person of the Year” is made after an extensive round of consultations and voting by all members of the UN Communications Group, whose decision is to be endorsement by the heads of UN Agencies.
This year's winner of the Person of the Year prize was Henry Kiprono Kirwa. He is a Kenyan Paralympics champion in 10,000-, 5,000- and 1,500-metre running competitions. He has been making efforts to fight poverty using sports despite his disability.
He was born virtually impaired in Kapsabet in the Rift Valley Province. In spite of this, he has demonstrated that disability is not inability and that through sports, youth can break away from poverty. Mr. Henry won three gold medals at the 2008 Paralympics held in Beijing, China, soon after the Olympics games.
His success is a result of hard work and perseverance, which have helped him to become and endearing to the youth who are encouraged and many are already emulating him by working hard to succeed like him.