Watamu Ward MCA Ibrahim Abdi Matumbo Awarding the best teams that did well in a football tournament oraganised by his Office. Photo by Ben Okweingoti. 
By Ben Okweingoti
A section of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) in Kilifi County have intensified efforts to empower young people through sports, using talent development as a tool to create economic opportunities and curb social vices linked to unemployment and idleness.
In Watamu Ward, MCA Ibrahim Abdi Matumbo recently organized multi-disciplinary tournaments in football, volleyball and handball, attracting top coaches from Kenya’s sports industry to scout and nurture emerging talent. The initiative aims to link gifted youth with opportunities in premier league teams and professional sports careers.
Speaking after the finals of the Ibrahim Matumbo Tournament held at Gede Primary School grounds, Abdi said the competitions will be held every three months to ensure continuity and sustained talent development.
“The winners received a Sh1 million cash prize, while President William Ruto donated an additional Sh1 million to be shared among all participating teams,” Abdi said, noting that the incentives are meant to motivate young people and keep them engaged in productive activities.
In Shella Ward, MCA Twahir Abdulrahman organized a beach football tournament at Buntwani grounds, saying the initiative was designed to showcase youth talent while addressing deep-rooted social challenges in the area.
Abdulrahman noted that Shella had been severely affected by drug abuse and juvenile gang activity, but sports-based interventions were already yielding positive results.
“Since we started these tournaments last year, security has significantly improved. Some of the youth have been scouted and absorbed into Kenya Premier League teams and are now earning a living through sports,” he said. “We invite more coaches and partners in the sports industry to visit and work with us in identifying and developing talent.”
The initiatives form part of renewed strategies by leaders in the county to rehabilitate, empower and economically uplift young people through sports and creative engagement.
The MCAs emphasized that sports play a critical role in transforming lives and restoring hope among the youth, many of whom have in the past fallen into drug abuse due to lack of opportunities. They said sustained investment in sports, arts and youth-centered programs would help reverse this trend.
The leaders further reiterated the commitment of the Kilifi County Assembly to nurturing talent, noting that such initiatives not only open pathways to employment but also promote discipline, teamwork and social cohesion among young people across the county.
