East Africa’s top brands and the leaders behind them were celebrated at the 9th Superbrands East Africa Tribute Awards held on January 29 at Nairobi’s Sankara Hotel.
The event recognised 61 companies across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania for their market resilience, innovation, and consumer trust, highlighting the growing strength of the region’s corporate landscape.
For the first time, Superbrands East Africa also honoured 75 brand custodians—the executives and strategists responsible for building and sustaining some of the region’s most successful brands.
“Brands are built by people. Recognising those who lead them demonstrates that strong leadership drives long-term business success,” Jawad Jaffer, Project Director of Superbrands East Africa, said.
Among the Kenyan winners were Naivas Supermarkets, Chandaria Industries, Equity Bank, Safisha, and Festive Bread. Tanzania’s top brands included ITV, The Guardian, GSM, Amsons Group, Azam, Hisense, Tanfoam Arusha, and Whitedent, while Uganda’s Tembo Steel was also recognised.
The night’s top award in the sports category went to Tanzania’s Simba SC Football Club, whose CEO, Zubeda Hassan Sakuru, highlighted the role of focus and strategy in leadership.
“Football unites us beyond borders. Passion drives us, but leadership requires clarity and objectivity,” she said.
Growth
The awards also featured a high-level panel discussion on African leadership and business growth, moderated by Shreya Karia of SHK Consulting.
Dr Vimal Shah, Chairman of Bidco Africa, urged African executives to embrace their potential. “There is a leader inside everyone, but in Africa, we have repressed that leader because we have always been told we are donor dependent. The beauty is that this is changing. It is our time to make a difference,” he said.
Tom Sitati, a brand strategist, noted the growing ambition across the continent.
“Africa is coming to itself. There is more pride and more ambition in what we do. We are all becoming more aspirational,” he said. Vikas Mehta, former CEO of Ogilvy Africa, added that empathy is a critical tool for business success.
“Understanding what motivates someone else is the simplest way to scale brands across diverse markets. Empathy is a real competitive advantage in Africa,” he said.
The evening also unveiled the 9th Volume of Superbrands East Africa, featuring a striking aerial photograph of Mount Kilimanjaro by the late Mo Amin.
Salim Amin of the Mohamed Amin Foundation shared the story behind the image: “He took the doors off, strapped himself in, and hung out of the plane to get shots like this. His work told the story of this continent.”
The 2026 Superbrands Awards show that East African businesses are not just surviving, they are growing, innovating, and positioning themselves as regional and global leaders. By recognising both brands and the people behind them, the awards emphasise that leadership, strategy, and innovation are key drivers of long-term business success in the region.
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