Local integrated marketing communications firm Oxygène MCL has been named one of the 2021 Global SABRE Awards Winners for its Kazi Mtaani Public Relations (PR) campaign entry.
Thanks to the firm’s Kazi Mtaani entry earlier rolled out on behalf of the State Department for Housing and Urban Development; the global award is the latest feather on Oxygène MCL’s cap. The firm won a 2021 SABRE EMEA award in the Government Agencies category in London last June.
On Wednesday, Oxygène won the coveted award at the 2021 Global SABRE Awards, which took place virtually yesterday in the United States of America.
From more than 5,500 entries submitted worldwide to PRovoke Media’s SABRE Awards competition, the judges selected 40 to receive Global SABRE Awards at PRovokeGlobal, held virtually this year for the second time.
The SABRE Awards attract more than 5,500 entries from more than 60 countries. The winners of the Global awards are the elite of the elite, representing best practice in categories ranging from social media to social responsibility, from public affairs to employee communications.
The Kazi Mtaani concept championed by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta has seen over 200,000 youths from the informal urban settlements work on various public works as part of an elaborate social protection program. The program rolled out in two phases was aimed at providing money to meet basic needs, drive a sense of purpose among youth, and help them to create a bond of service to their communities at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking, when he received the global award news, State Department of Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga described the award as a timely tribute given that the Government is making preparations to roll out the third Kazi Mtaani Phase.
“We celebrate the excellent news on the Kazi Mtaani 2021 SABRE Global award win, and congratulate Oxygène MCL for a job well done. This is a deserved tribute to all the stakeholders who dedicated their time and efforts to ensure the smooth rollout and public communication of the Kazi Mtaani National Hygiene Program,” PS Hinga said.
Addressing the nation on Mashujaa day, H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta said: “Noting the success of Kazi Mtaani Programme and its effect in enhancing opportunities for the youth across the country, I direct the National Treasury to allocate KSh. 10 billion for the third phase of the Kazi Mtaani Programme. The programme covering over 200,000 youths will be rolled out to all counties, with priority given to densely populated areas.”
Ahead of the 2021 SABRE EMEA win, Oxygène MCL had won several awards in the 2021 SABRE Africa regional event announced Mid May, including the Public Affairs/Government Relations category, for its Kazi Mtaani campaign. In addition, the firm also received Certificates of Excellence for its KCB Group – 2jiajiri campaign rolled out for the KCB Foundation.
The SABRE Awards recognize campaigns that demonstrate the highest levels of strategic planning, creativity, and business results.
SABRE Awards attract more entries from around the world than any other PR awards program. Winning campaigns can honestly claim to have been measured against—and triumphed in competition with—the best public relations campaigns in the world. Because SABRE Awards judges are drawn from the most senior ranks of the PR industry—both from agencies and the client-side of the business—the third-party endorsement that results from an exhaustive peer-review judging process has real credibility and speaks volumes about the standard of winning work.
Locally, the National Hygiene Program (NHP), dubbed Kazi Mtaani, aims to restore local economic activity within informal settlements while providing cleaner environments for persons living in informal settlements. The Kazi Mtaani campaign was rolled out at the end of April 2020 as a social protection and local economic recovery activity. Kazi Mtaani utilised extended public works project (EPWPs) to provide relief by providing jobs and hygiene int
erventions; to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic in informal urban settlements.
Kazi Mtaani was a timely government intervention that effectively managed to pump in more than Kshs 1.5 billion every month to thousands of economically hard-hit youth in the informal urban settlements monthly and eased some of the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic. Pumping in Kshs 1.5billion worth of liquidity to the most vulnerable was no mean feat as it had a positive multiplier effect at the grassroots level.
Designed as an innovative social protection scheme, Kazi Mtaani focused on delivering wages while promoting labor-intensive approaches to existing public project portfolios in all counties.
To win the 2021 SABRE EMEA award last June, Oxygène MCL beat finalists drawn mainly from Europe.
The finalists in the Government agencies category included:
● Anrufen hilft! (Calling helps) — UBSKM with Ressourcenmangel
● European Investment Bank Activity Report 2020: Solutions for a year of crisis — European Investment Bank
● Igniting Hope — European Investment Bank with SIGMA, Savion Ray, and GOPA
● Kazi Mtaani — State Department for Housing and Urban Development with Oxygène Marketing Communication
● Road Trip Project – What’s Up Europe? — European Commission with ICF Next
This year’s SABRE Awards EMEA shortlist included around 400 campaigns selected from among more than 2,000 entries in this year’s competition, recognising Superior Achievement in Branding, Reputation and Engagement. An international jury of industry leaders evaluated the PR campaigns.
![Canon’s RF/EF lens production exceeds 170 million units, extending its world record in interchangeable lens production Both EF and RF lenses have gained strong support from a wide range of users—from beginners to professionals—leading to steady growth in production volume Canon Inc. announced that, in October 2025, Canon reached a historic milestone of producing a cumulative total of 170 million RF and EF interchangeable lenses for its EOS series, extending its world record for the highest number of interchangeable camera lenses ever produced. The EF lens was introduced in 1987 as the dedicated lens system for Canon’s EOS autofocus single-lens reflex film camera, debuting simultaneously with the EOS system itself. Since their inception, EF lenses have led the industry by incorporating a series of world-first technologies, including the Ultrasonic Motor (USM), Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, and a multilayered Diffractive Optical (DO) element, and have undergone numerous evolutions. In 2018, Canon launched the RF lens series, designed for the EOS R mirrorless camera system, which features a large aperture, short back focus, and high-speed communication system to deliver even higher image quality. The RF and EF lens series lineup now includes a total of 108 models , covering a wide range of focal lengths from ultra-wide 10mm to super-telephoto 1200mm. The series also includes the world’s first VR lens lenses with built-in power zoom suited for video shooting, and even those compatible with power zoom adapters—expanding the scope of creative expression and meeting the diverse needs of users for both still photography and video. EF lens production began at Canon’s Utsunomiya Plant in 1987. Since then, both EF and RF lenses have gained strong support from a wide range of users—from beginners to professionals—leading to steady growth in production volume. Today, Canon manufactures lenses at five sites: Utsunomiya Plant; Canon Inc., Taiwan; Canon Opto (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.; Oita Canon Inc.; and Miyazaki Canon Inc. Milestones include 10 million units produced by 1995 and 50 million by 2009. Then in 2014, Canon became the first company in the world to reach 100 million interchangeable camera lenses produced. In October 2025, the company reached 170 million units, leading to the achievement of this world record. The 170 millionth lens produced was the RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Z. Canon has maintained the No.1 global market share for digital interchangeable-lens cameras for 22 consecutive years since 2003. Moving forward, Canon will continue to refine its proprietary imaging technologies and further strengthen and expand its lens lineup, pioneering new imaging possibilities and contributing to the continued evolution of photographic and video culture. Highlights in the development of the RF/EF Lens Series The EF lens, which was introduced alongside EOS in March 1987, has adopted a variety of world-first technologies, including Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, featured in the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM released in 1995; a multilayered Diffractive Optical (DO) element, used in the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM launched in 2001; and Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC) [7], applied to the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM released in 2008. In 2021, Canon launched the EOS VR System, a VR video system consisting of a mirrorless camera [8], dedicated lens, and PC software, thereby creating a 3D 180° VR video through an interchangeable lens camera. In 2024, Canon began rolling out a new series of hybrid lenses equipped with iris rings, designed to meet the needs of both still photography and professional video production. For zoom lenses, the company has also launched RF 24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z and RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Z which are compatible with power zoom adapters. For single focus lenses, the company released F1.4 L hybrid prime lens series that unified the size and ring and button position across models. In September 2025, Canon launched RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, the fifth model in this series, demonstrating that it can meet demands in line with the changing times. [1] Includes EF, EF-S, EF-M, EF Cinema, RF, RF-S, and RF Cinema lenses and extenders. As of October 21, 2025 (according to a survey by Canon) [2] Among SLR cameras (according to a survey by Canon) [3] Number of products sold as of October 22, 2025 (including extenders). The number of lens models for sale is different according to market figures. [4] Focal length is 5.2mm to 1200mm when including VR lenses [5] An interchangeable digital camera lens that enables VR footage with a single camera. Among interchangeable lens digital cameras released as of October 5, 2021 (according to a survey by Canon) [6] Refers to unit share (according to a survey by Canon) [7] A special coating with advanced anti-reflective properties [8] For applicable cameras, please visit the official Canon website *Release dates in this document refer to dates in Japan. Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region - by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market. Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa. Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.](https://businessinsights.africa/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1.-Canon-EOS-R50-Mirrorless-Camera-for-Beginners-1024x764-1-100x70.jpg "Canon makes history with 170 Million lenses milestone")
