The Homeless of Kisumu (HOK), in collaboration with the FIFA Foundation, hosted the Jiboreshe Slum Tournament on December 12 at Nyalenda Railways Grounds. The event, coinciding with Jamhuri Day, brought together 18 community football teams from informal settlements, the streets, and a children’s remand home in Kisumu.
The tournament, featuring 14 boys’ teams and four girls’ teams, showcased the power of football to drive social change. Teams from Manyatta, Obunga, and Nyalenda participated in the one-day knockout event aimed at promoting wellness, fostering talent, and encouraging social cohesion.
George Bush, a member of HOK, highlighted the mission behind the Jiboreshe Sports for Wellness program. “Our goal is to mentor wellness and inspire safe improvement among beneficiaries. This year’s tournament brought 18 teams together for a fun and impactful event, fostering social cohesion during the festive season,” he said.
In addition to football, a free medical camp ran alongside the tournament, addressing critical health needs in the community. Supported by Kisumu County Hospital, Hope Rekindle, and the Ministry of Health, the camp provided family planning services, sexual health consultations, mental health care, blood pressure, and HIV/AIDS counseling and testing.
Primafacie Mutua, who oversees operations at HOK and M-TAKA, emphasized the importance of the medical camp. “We partnered with various organizations to offer these services, and over 150 people accessed them today. This underscores the urgent need for such initiatives in the community,” she explained.
Among the beneficiaries was Faith Ouma, CEO of Tektaka Solution, who expressed her appreciation for the initiative.
“As a woman working in waste collection, healthcare costs can be prohibitive. This medical camp has made essential services accessible, and the SHA registration offered on-site has eased the process for many vulnerable women like us,” she said.
Brian Onyango Okello, a community volunteer, praised the collaboration between HOK and other organizations. “Working with HOK on Jiboreshe Football strengthens our community efforts. It’s inspiring to see partnerships driving real change,” he noted.
The tournament also received backing from the Kisumu County Government, with Beatrice Odongo, County Minister for Sports, Culture, Gender, and Youth Affairs, applauding the initiative.
“The Jiboreshe Tournament is a fantastic platform to unite communities and empower youth. Beyond football, the medical camp, cancer screenings, HIV testing, and GBV discussions have added immense value. The talent displayed by teams from Kisumu’s informal settlements is commendable,” she said.
The Jiboreshe Slum Tournament underscored the power of sports to unite communities and address pressing social and health challenges, leaving an indelible mark on Kisumu’s vulnerable populations.
