By Eddah Waithaka
Mabati Rolling Mills Ltd (MRM), through its Safal MRM Foundation, officially launched the 2026 edition of its prestigious Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition today. What once stood as an annual award now evolves into a flagship Corporate Social Investment (CSI) movement.
The new theme, “Frame Your Future,” transforms photography into a circular impact engine for conservation and education.
The competition repositions photography as a force for environmental preservation while directly funding education initiatives across Kenya and East Africa.
It calls on photographers—professional and amateur alike—to use their lenses not merely to capture beauty, but to build classrooms, fund scholarships, and shape a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for the communities MRM serves.
At the launch event held at Hyatt Place in Westlands, MRM unveiled a bold new framework: photography as a “circular impact engine.” This model converts Creative Capital—the art of photography—into Human Capital: tangible educational infrastructure.
Every image submitted helps support learning opportunities for young people across the region.“At Mabati Rolling Mills Ltd, we believe that when you invest in educating young people, you are powering the hope and dreams of future generations,” said Mr. Sarit Shah, Chairman of the Safal MRM Foundation.
“With ‘Frame Your Future,’ we prove that human ingenuity and nature can thrive together. Every photograph captured through this movement is no longer just a digital file. It is a call to action that will help secure our shared future.”
Mr. Shah added, “This is a direct effort to support education in Kenya. Every photo becomes a brick in a classroom or a scholarship for a young Kenyan. We invite photographers to use their lenses to address the crisis of classroom shortages arising from a growing population, as we champion education initiatives across the country through the innovative, quality building solutions manufactured by Mabati Rolling Mills Ltd.”
Mr. Albert Sigei, CEO of MRM, highlighted the competition’s focus on empowering younger generations, “The 2026 competition introduces a significant focus on democratizing conservation through mobile photography. By featuring dedicated Under 18 Amateur categories, Safal Eye in the Wild empowers what we call ‘The Future Lens’—Gen Z and Alpha storytellers who use their smartphones to document and make positive changes and impact in the world around them.”
How to Enter & Prize Pool
The competition opens to photographers across East and Southern Africa, including professionals, amateurs, and young entrants.
An elite panel will judge submissions based on thematic alignment with conservation and education, technical excellence, and emotional impact.
Winners will celebrate at a red-carpet, black-tie gala on 17th July 2026. The total prize package includes:· Gold Award: USD 3,000· Silver Award: USD 2,000· Bronze Award: USD 1,000· People’s Choice Award: USD 500· Amateur/Minor Categories: USD 500“Frame Your Future” today.
Submit your entries via the official campaign microsite:👉 https://safaleyeinthewild.safalgroup.com/#/
