Kenyan actress and model Brenda Wairimu has finally received the physical Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) medal, nearly two years after President William Ruto conferred the prestigious national honour in recognition of her contribution to Kenya’s creative industry.
The celebrated actress shared the milestone with her followers on Instagram on Tuesday, July 29, expressing excitement as she held the medal for the first time since being named among the recipients during the 2024 Jamhuri Day honours.
Posting photos of the medal, Wairimu described it as a deeply personal achievement, noting that despite decades of accomplishments in the entertainment industry, this was the first official medal she had ever received.
“Two years later, I finally got my hands on my OGW medal 🎖️, she’s so beautiful 🥰🥰🥰. While my daughter already boasts quite a collection of medals, and now after three decades on earth I have my first one! If I achieved any during my school days, they have long slipped my mind, making this recognition incredibly special to me.”
The actress received the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) after President Ruto honoured her on December 12, 2024, alongside fellow actress Sarah Hassan and Ohangla musician Prince Indah for their outstanding contributions to Kenya’s film and creative industries.
Although the honour was officially announced in 2024, Wairimu only received the physical medal this week, highlighting a process that often puzzles many Kenyans whenever national honours are announced.
While recipients are officially recognized once their names are gazetted by the President during national celebrations such as Jamhuri Day, receiving the physical medal is a separate administrative process.
The National Honours Advisory Committee oversees the production and issuance of medals, certificates and insignia after the official announcement.
Once the honours list is published, recipients are entered into the official state register, but the medals themselves are manufactured separately. Since they are minted in batches, recipients can wait months—or even years—before the physical awards are ready for collection.
The process also includes administrative verification before recipients are invited to receive the medals during smaller investiture ceremonies held at State House or other designated venues.
As a result, the delay between being honoured and receiving the physical insignia is not uncommon.
The actress revealed that despite spending over a decade building one of Kenya’s most successful acting careers, she had never owned a medal before.
Her playful comparison to her daughter, who already has several medals, added a light-hearted touch to what she described as an emotional moment.
The recognition marks another milestone for Wairimu, who has become one of Kenya’s most respected actresses through her work in television and film.
She first gained national attention through local television productions before cementing her place in the industry with acclaimed performances in productions such as Mali, Monica, Disconnect, 18 Hours, 40 Sticks and Netflix’s Country Queen.
The Order of the Grand Warrior is among Kenya’s highest civilian honours and is awarded to individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the nation in fields including public service, sports, business, science, the arts and humanitarian work.
 medal nearly two years after being honoured.){kind=link}