The Young Lions Kenya 2025 competition has concluded, crowning the nation’s best emerging creative talents and securing their place on the global stage at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France. This year’s competition, sponsored by Tusker, showcased some of the most innovative minds in advertising, design, and digital marketing, reaffirming Kenya’s growing influence in the creative industry.
The Rise of Young Creative Talent in Kenya
The Young Lions Kenya competition is a highly anticipated event that gives young professionals a platform to showcase their skills, solve industry challenges, and present their work to top industry experts. This year, participants competed across three categories: Print, Design, and Digital, producing campaigns that demonstrated strategic thinking, innovation, and world-class creativity.
After an intense judging process, the best teams were awarded, with the Gold winners in each category securing a ticket to Cannes Lions 2025 to compete against the world’s top young creatives.
Meet the Winners: Young Lions Kenya 2025 Champions
Print Category
- Gold: The Vibe Tribe – Kelvin Njoroge & Mercy Maina
- Silver: Kinjal Sheth & Muskaan Shaikh
- Bronze: Schizzo Design – Jabez Wachira & Newton Wachira
Design Category
- Gold: Ollie & Lou – Olive Wangari & Louis Lukata
- Silver: Cool Waters – Sylvia Mwihaki & Gathoni Matu
- Bronze: Full Copacity – Kevin Ikua & Victor Maina
Digital Category
- Gold: Just Bold – Allen Onduru & George Omukanda
- Silver: Scan Social – Martin Sultan & Susan Wangui
- Bronze: Team Sisi – Arvin Munyiri & Bonface Komo
These top-performing teams will now represent Kenya at Cannes Lions 2025, competing against some of the most talented young creatives globally.
Tusker’s Commitment to Kenya’s Creative Future
The 2025 Young Lions Kenya competition was proudly supported by Tusker, a brand that has long championed Kenyan culture, creativity, and innovation. Speaking on the competition’s impact, Christine Kariuki, Marketing Manager for Tusker, expressed immense pride in the young creatives:
“We are incredibly proud of the talent showcased at this year’s Young Lions Kenya competition. Tusker is committed to fostering creativity and providing platforms for young Kenyans to shine. We believe these winners represent the future of our industry, and we are excited to support them as they take their talent to the global stage. It is an honor for Tusker to be part of a program that lifts up Kenyan creatives and furthers their careers. We are very proud of all the participants.” – Christine Kariuki, Marketing Manager, Tusker
This backing from Tusker highlights the growing importance of brand involvement in Kenya’s creative economy, ensuring that young talent is nurtured, supported, and celebrated.
A Launchpad for the Next Generation of Creatives
The Young Lions Kenya initiative is more than just a competition—it’s a stepping stone for Kenyan creatives to make a name for themselves internationally. By participating in Cannes Lions, Kenya’s top young talent will gain global exposure, connect with industry leaders, and bring back valuable insights that can help shape the future of the local creative landscape.
Kenya’s creative industry has been on a steady rise, with more young professionals breaking barriers and proving their capabilities on international platforms. Events like Young Lions Kenya play a crucial role in strengthening the local ecosystem, ensuring that Kenyan creatives are not just participants but strong contenders on the global stage.
What’s Next for the Winners?
With their victories secured, Kelvin Njoroge, Mercy Maina, Olive Wangari, Louis Lukata, and other Gold winners will now gear up for the international Young Lions Competition at Cannes Lions 2025. This will be an opportunity for them to:
- Compete against the world’s best young creatives.
- Showcase Kenya’s talent on a global stage.
- Gain mentorship and insights from top industry experts.
- Expand their professional networks and explore international career opportunities.
For the Kenyan creative industry, this milestone represents a major step forward, proving that local talent is ready to take on the world.
Final Thoughts: A Win for Kenya’s Creative Industry
The Young Lions Kenya 2025 competition has once again highlighted Kenya’s creative brilliance, and with Tusker’s support, the future looks promising for Kenyan young creatives.
As the Gold-winning teams prepare to represent Kenya at Cannes Lions 2025, the world will be watching. This is just the beginning of a new era for Kenya’s creative industry, one that will see more young creatives rise, thrive, and compete on the world’s biggest creative stage.
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