Elgeyo marakwet: The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Elgeyo Marakwet branch has officially launched its first ever women’s league, marking a significant milestone in efforts to promote inclusivity and gender equality in sports within the county.
According to Kenya News Agency, FKF Elgeyo Marakwet Branch Chairman, Otieno Dominic, described the initiative as a historic step towards empowering women through football, despite prevailing challenges. Dominic emphasized the difficulties faced in organizing the league due to financial constraints, yet celebrated the successful assembly of eight teams from across the county, including Kapyego in Marakwet East, Chebiemit in Marakwet West, and others from Keiyo South and Keiyo North.
Dominic highlighted that financial limitations remain a major obstacle to the growth of women’s football, with teams currently shouldering their own operational costs. He expressed hope for sponsorships to ease these burdens and encourage more participation. The new league aims to nurture talent and address social issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), with Dominic noting the league’s potential for raising awareness on GBV affecting both women and men.
Joan Too, one of the tournament’s sponsors, supported using sports as a tool for social transformation and emphasized the effectiveness of sports in reaching grassroots communities. FKF official Emmanuel Kiplimo praised the initiative as a progressive move towards inclusivity in sports and a platform for public sensitization on GBV and substance abuse. He also highlighted the role of partners such as Strides for Africa and Alpha Initiative in supporting community outreach and education efforts to combat GBV.
Despite Elgeyo Marakwet’s reputation for producing top athletes, Kiplimo warned that rising cases of GBV pose a threat to the sector’s growth. He stressed the importance of continued collaboration with partners to educate communities on combating GBV.
Franscline Kiprop, a representative from the Women Football Federation Kenya, described the launch as a new beginning for women in sports. Kiprop emphasized the potential of sports to promote peace, love, and unity while equipping players with skills and knowledge to become community ambassadors of change.
Stakeholders noted the challenges posed by the county’s vast geography, with travel costs hindering progress due to the lack of sponsorships. To mitigate this, FKF has adopted a zonal approach to competitions, minimizing travel costs while ensuring broader participation and progression to national levels.
The launch of the women’s league is expected to create new opportunities for female athletes in Elgeyo Marakwet and advance advocacy efforts against gender-based violence and other social challenges through sport.
