Busia county: Vocal Africa has intensified efforts to promote peace and security among young people in Busia County. And to meet this objective, the organization is using sports as a platform to sensitize the youth and communities on the need to shun violence and maintain peaceful coexistence.
According to Kenya News Agency, during a sports tournament at Masebula Primary School in Butula Sub County, Mitchelle Ijai from Vocal Africa emphasized the importance of engaging youth in conversations about security and peace. She highlighted the role of such tournaments in fostering dialogue and preventing the rise of insecurity. Vocal Africa plans to extend this peace and security sensitization program to other parts of the country, especially as the country approaches the electioneering period, which poses a risk of increased political manipulation and violence among young people.
Ijai urged security agencies to take decisive action against those causing insecurity, stressing the need for arrests and charges to increase community awareness and discourage violent behavior. Rainskin Oyugi, also from Vocal Africa, expressed concerns about the state of human rights in Busia, calling for stronger measures to protect young people and the community, citing recent incidents involving police violence against youth.
Christopher Omondi, founder of Dream for Life Foundation, underscored the importance of engaging young people in constructive activities to prevent crime and indiscipline, pointing out the generational disconnect between youth and older community members. He noted that sports serve as a bridge, fostering interaction and peaceful coexistence. Omondi mentioned that the tournament included teams from Busia and neighboring Siaya County, promoting unity along the county border.
Youth participant Michael Otieno advocated for more initiatives targeting young people, emphasizing that continuous engagement could help address social challenges such as drug abuse and crime. He encouraged youth to use their talents as a means of livelihood rather than resorting to crime.
Coach Sammie Odinga highlighted the effectiveness of sports in delivering messages of peace to young people, providing them with opportunities to showcase their talents. He noted that the initiative had successfully attracted numerous youth, offering them a constructive alternative to crime.
