PhD student Gladys Kemboi has been named a recipient of the Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) Excellence Awards 2026 in the category of Young LIS Professional. This is an international award recognizing excellence in library and information science in Africa.
Kemboi was nominated by the Kenya Library Association (KLA). The awards ceremony took place on April 29 in Livingstone, Zambia, with Peter Gatiti, president of KLA, receiving the award on Kemboi's behalf.
"I am grateful to receive this international excellence award. It is an honor to be recognized by KLA and SCECSAL for my contributions, innovation, and commitment to advancing knowledge management, library and information science, and community impact," said Kemboi. "I deeply appreciate KLA's leadership in mentoring and supporting young professionals in our field."
Kemboi focuses on digital preservation, decolonization of knowledge, epistemic justice, advancing local and Indigenous knowledge in development, and collaborating with leaders and partners across sectors and around the globe to build dynamic and equitable knowledge ecosystems.
Her recent honors include the 2025 Knowledge Manager of the Year, 2024 Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) Fellowship Award, Maggie Weaver Joy of Information Fellowship, and 2025 Research and Advocacy Social Justice Award from the Office of Diversity & Social Justice Education in the Office of Student Affairs. She holds a bachelor's degree in information studies from The Technical University of Kenya and master's degree in information and knowledge management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.