The inaugural Malaika Tribute Awards founded by gospel singer Daddy Owen, took place early this week at Safari Park Hotel. A number of people living with disability were awarded for excelling in their various field.

The first awardee of the night was Barack Otieno Ouma who won the Innovator Award for creating motorised vehicles for disabled people while the Notable Educator Award went to University of Nairobi senior lecturer, Dr Michael Ndurumo who is deaf and teaches hearing students.

In his acceptance speech Ndurumo said he learnt the "value and importance" of hard work at the age of seven and thanked his family and his "students in university who have challenged me in various ways."

Winner of the Activist of the Year Award was Harum Maalim Hassan who runs the NGO, Nondo. Hassan said that the recognition "has given me more energy" to talk about the issues of disabled nomadic communities in Kenya.

15-years-old winner Martha Maneno dedicated her award to the "kids who were shot in Connecticut, USA". Legendary gospel singer Mary Atieno Ominde was thankful to Daddy Owen for starting the awards. She bagged the Lifetime Achievement award.

Other winners were actress and beauty queen Ruth Mueni who walked away with the Special Recognition Award and Bethany Kids - Kijabe Hospital were recognised for their hand in helping kids and awarded the Good Samaritan of the Year. All the winners walked away with a Sh100,000 cash price and Airtel air time for a year and a modem.