Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti speaking during the launch of the third edition of the Governor’s Cup at Kisooni Catholic Church Grounds. Photo By Governor’s Press. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Governor Wavinya Ndeti has announced bold plans to form a Machakos County football team that will participate in the National Kenya Premier League, marking a major leap in her administration’s efforts to nurture and professionalize local sports talent.
Speaking during the launch of the third edition of the Governor’s Cup at Kisooni Catholic Church Grounds, Governor Ndeti said her government is finalizing a sustainable framework to support County Leagues, Regional, and Division Two clubs, with the ultimate goal of elevating Machakos into the country’s top football division.
“My Government is in the process of finalizing a sustainable means of supporting County Leagues, Regional and Division 2 clubs in Machakos County. This will pave the way for the formation of a county team capable of competing in the Kenya Premier League,” she declared, to resounding applause from the crowd.
The Governor’s Cup, which has grown into one of the largest grassroots sports programs in the country, has already transformed the lives of dozens of young players. In its previous editions, more than 1,200 teams have taken part, with several players scouted by both local and international clubs. This year’s tournament has attracted a record 650 teams across all 40 wards of the county.
Governor Ndeti highlighted the success stories of Machakos youth who have broken into professional football, including Mary Nthambi, now starring for the Police Bullets, and Felix Mwendwa, who recently traveled to Spain for professional trials.
“This is the kind of transformation we envisioned when we started this program in 2022. Machakos is now firmly on the football map, and the next step is ensuring our young stars play at the highest level nationally,” she said.
The Governor’s Cup has also expanded beyond football, integrating tree planting drives, mental health awareness, and sports clinics led by international legends under the theme “Nurturing Talent, Greening Our Future, and Empowering Generations.”
Governor Ndeti thanked the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for their support in developing the tournament and reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to investing in sports as a tool for youth empowerment, job creation, and social transformation.
“As we kick off this third edition, I want to tell our youth: Vijana tusakate dimba, wasichana tucheze ball, tusibebe ball! The journey to the Premier League starts here in Machakos,” she concluded.
