Catherine Kamau, celebrated Kenyan actress and social advocate, widely known as Kate Actress, has been appointed the Global Goodwill Ambassador for Africa for the new Bill Gates & Friends social movement. This landmark role is a central part of the upcoming Bill Gates 70th Birthday Campaign, set to launch later this month in the United States.
Kamau’s appointment positions her as the primary voice representing Africa on the global stage, with a strategic focus on three key regional hubs: Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.
Her selection, according to a statement, highlights her proven ability to amplify African narratives, champion social impact, and connect the continent’s diverse stories to a worldwide audience.
The Bill Gates 70th Birthday Celebration, scheduled for October 28, 2025, is conceived not merely as a tribute but as a global call to action. Organised by a coalition of leaders, friends and changemakers, the event aims to honour Mr. Gates’ contributions to philanthropy, health, education and technology, while mobilising partners to sustain and expand his work.
Kamau, a trusted cultural icon and media personality with a career spanning over 15 years, is also the founder of the Auntie Kate Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering vulnerable women and girls.
As Goodwill Ambassador, Kate Actress will lead several high-impact initiatives including: African Changemaker Onboarding in which she will recruit African innovators and leaders to participate in a digital campaign highlighting Mr. Gates’ humanitarian legacy.
Campaign Anthem: Kamau will collaborate with the official Campaign Anthem Artist to create and launch a unifying anthem celebrating shared values of service and innovation and Storytelling and Engagement, where she will spearhead engagement efforts in the lead-up to the Future of Humanity Initiative and the Monthly Humanitarian Legacy Festivals, both launching in February 2026.
A key component of the birthday campaign is the Future of Humanity Initiative, an honorary 70th birthday gift. Co-created by changemakers inspired by Bill Gates’ global impact, this independent movement has already secured over $3 billion in pledges from renowned philanthropists committed to carrying his mission forward.
The initiative is designed to fulfill Gates’ lifelong dream: ensuring every child has access to adequate food, medical care, and educational opportunities. The founding changemakers and philanthropic commitments will be formally unveiled during the October 28th celebration.
Digital activations for the campaign include a Pre-Birthday Wishes Campaign encouraging messages using hashtags like #BillGatesAt70 and #FutureofHumanity, special recognition and giveaways for nominated African changemakers, and distribution of tokens of appreciation to supporters.
The high-impact global tribute and initiative is independent and not affiliated with the Gates Foundation.
