The Kenya Heroes Act No.5 of 2014 identifies heroes as persons who have positively contributed selflessly and sacrificed for the country in any of the following 14 categories: liberation struggle, spiritual leadership, indigenous knowledge, cultural values and practices, arts, sports, scholarship professionalism and research, peace-making, statesmanship, entrepreneurship and industry, philanthropy, human rights, national cohesion and integration, and environmental conservation.

Furthermore, heroes are people who have made various contributions and undertaken exemplary acts to change lives for the benefit of the society where they live. Further, heroes are those who have sometimes risked their lives for the benefit of communities and their actions may have been recognized globally.

A member of the public, an organization, a group of persons or an institution can nominate suitable person(s) to be recommended for declaration as heroes. On receipt of the nomination, the Council evaluates the nomination in accordance to a criteria provided for in the First Schedule of the Kenya Heroes Act, No. 5 of 2014. The names of all proposed persons are then published in at least two newspapers of national circulation for members of the public to provide their representations. The representations are considered and a final list of names of persons confirmed as qualified to be declared as heroes is forwarded to the President for declaration in the Kenya Gazette as one being a national hero.

Persons who are declared as heroes:

1. Shall be invested with that honour by the president on Mashujaa Day celebrated on the twentieth October each year.
2. Shall be awarded commendation certificates and medal.
3. May have symbolic tombs, monuments and statues build in their honour where necessary.
4. May have books published that depict their respective roles in the Country’s history or social life.
5. May be accorded financial assistance from the National Heroes Fund where their economic circumstances warrant such.

The National Heroes Fund is established by the Kenya Heroes Act No.5 of 2014 and is to be used for the benefit of national heroes who are in need of financial assistance and their dependants. The Fund is awaiting development of regulations necessary to operationalize it.

The Council may withdraw an honour with all its privileges, caution or censure a person who engages in misconduct which includes but is not limited to conviction by a court of law for an offence and sentence to a term of imprisonment or any violation of Chapter six of the Kenyan Constitution.

No there are no age restrictions to persons who can be declared as national heroes. Children who have undertaken heroic acts can also be declared as national heroes.