Africa-Press – Kenya. The government has been urged to invest more in grassroots sports development to prevent young people from channelling their energy into crime and other social vices. Mjambere MCA Amriya Boy said many talented youths, especially in football, go unnoticed and unsupported due to a lack of proper nurturing structures.
Speaking on Sunday at the conclusion of the Amriya Supercup 2025 at Kadongo Grounds, Boy said she has witnessed exceptional football talent among young people in Mjambere that ends up going to waste.
“I have seen boys with incredible football skills, but they lack structures that can help their talents grow,” she said.
The MCA called for the establishment of at least one football academy in every constituency in Mombasa, noting that the county lacks facilities dedicated to youth sports development despite having abundant talent.
“We don’t have facilities in Mombasa that can nurture young footballers, yet sports today is a big industry. Whoever invests in sports invests in a whole generation,” Boy said.
She linked the rise in juvenile crime, drug abuse, early pregnancies and early marriages to idleness caused by unemployment and lack of opportunity. “When youth are idle, they are easily influenced by peers into vices.
But if there are structures that nurture their talents and give them hope, crime levels would reduce,” she said. Boy said sports academies would enable young people to build careers from their talents while contributing to economic growth.
“There is a direct link between poverty and crime.
Where poverty is high, crime is also high,” she noted, adding that many individuals and institutions are willing to partner with the government to establish sports academies, including offering land for such projects.
Her sentiments were echoed by Akili Kadhaa CBO executive director, Juma Mashuhuri, who said a lot of sporting talent in the streets goes to waste due to a lack of nurturing.
“Parents often push children towards academics even when their strengths lie in sports or the arts,” Mashuhuri said, noting that such pressure often leads to frustration and rebellion.
“Not everyone excels academically. Some youths are gifted in sports, but when they are forced into paths they don’t fit in, they become frustrated and may turn to crime,” he added.
Meanwhile, Youth, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to nurturing sporting talent. Speaking during the Wachangamwe Cultural Festival, Mvurya said the government will begin the process of identifying a contractor to complete the long-stalled Mombasa Stadium.
He added that another stadium will be constructed in Likoni, while the Kwale Stadium will be renovated to meet international standards. Similar projects are planned for Kilifi and Taita Taveta counties.
The CS said the planned Jomvu mini-stadium will receive Sh25 million from the national government. “All this is geared towards supporting and nurturing talent,” Mvurya said.
