Eddah Nkoyo: Meet woman behind popular 'Great rift valley gospel music awards'

Growing up, Eddah Nkoyo was raised in a Christian household. Her brother was a pastor, and she often led Sunday school songs—something she carried with her into high school.   

“When I joined Ole Tipis Girls Secondary, I became the Bible study coordinator and founded the Zion Army dance group, which performed during school events,” she recalls.  

In 2007, Eddah moved to Nakuru for college, where she pursued studies in Community Health, concurrently with Management, and Public Relations. Though she continued to attend church, her involvement wasn't as active.  

After working for some time, she ventured into music in 2015, recording her first song. Unfortunately, she never got to shoot the video, as the producer disappeared with her Sh. 30,000.  

“Even though I lost the money, I eventually tracked him down and re-recorded the song 'I Am a Winner', which I officially released in 2016. I later collaborated with Simbo Owade on another track, which earned me a nomination at the Xtreem Awards,” she shares.  

Eddah didn’t win, making the award experience disheartening. Things felt worse when two other artists from Nakuru were nominated for the Groove Awards but also failed to secure a win.  

“Seeing another artist go through the same disappointment made me wonder—what if we had our own regional award? Maybe then, artists would have a better chance of being recognized nationally,” she says.  

In 2019, after a year of self-doubt, Eddah launched the Great Rift Valley Gospel music Awards. Hosting the inaugural event felt surreal to her.  

“Witnessing the raw emotions on the winners’ faces was beautiful. Many of them would never have had the opportunity to receive an award elsewhere. Being able to give them that chance is an unmatched feeling,” she reflects.  

What began with just five counties has since grown tremendously. Over the past five years, more than 3,500 artists have participated across 33 categories, resulting in 165 winners.  

The calm, soft-spoken CEO hopes to build a lasting legacy—creating a platform through the awards where artists can access greater opportunities and recognition.  

One of her biggest challenges has been mobilizing resources to sustain the event. Still, she remains committed to the cause.  

“Maintaining consistency hasn’t been easy. But prayer has played a big role in the journey, along with support from friends who became family. They’ve encouraged me through tough times when I felt like giving up,” she says.  

In recognition of her work, Eddah was appointed to the UNESCO Creative City Technical Working Group in 2023. In this role, she collaborates with stakeholders to support the creative industry in her county.  

She also hopes to launch a forum for women in the creative space, aimed at equipping them with skills in mental health awareness, work-life balance, financial literacy, and fostering a more supportive environment for women in the arts.