By:Betty Luke
A section of Baisa youth members address journalists during their soccer tournament at Kambi ya Juu primary grounds. PHOTO/KILELE MEDIA
For David (not his real name) cattle rustling was once part of his life growing up in the conflict-prone Burat Ward in Isiolo County.
He was recruited into cattle rustling at a young age of nine years but the deaths of some of his friends during raids forced him to reconsider the path he had taken.
The loss of people he knew, he says, exposed the devastating consequences of a cycle of violence that had become normalised among the young people.
David eventually abandoned cattle rustling and began seeking safer ways of making a living and contributing to peace in his community.
For his friend, Peter (also not his real name), the turning point came in a similar way. Recruited into rustling at 12 years, he however rethought his decision three later, in 2021 after losing his best friend during a raid.
Players during the Baisa youth soccer tournament. PHOTO/Kilele Media
The two men, whose names have been changed to protect their identities, say youth engagement is critical in a ward where idleness, drug abuse and insecurity remain concerns.
Their experiences have also become part of the wider argument for investing in community-led initiatives that offer young people alternatives to crime, a challenge that Baisa Youth Group has been trying to address since its formation in 2018.
Group chairperson Elijah Chepriko said the group was established to unite young people and keep them away from drugs and other activities that threaten peace.
“We came together to unite the youth away from drugs. We also do tournaments for peace,” Chepriko said.
The group has also introduced mentorship programmes in schools, targeting young people with skills that can help them make positive choices and prepare for their future.
Chepriko said the group’s peace tournaments, conducted every August holiday, were designed to bring together young people from different parts of the ward as a way of ensuring they remain engaged and do not indulge in criminal activities.
“We have done the tournament for peace to reduce cattle rustling and other criminal issues,” he said.
Beyond soccer, the group mentors young people into income generating activities including agriculture and business startups to help them source for their livelihoods
“We have tournaments, mentorship and a little agriculture. We have a farm that we support use as a training space for young people interested venturing into Agriculture,” noted Antonella Kitela, a beneficiary of the group.
Aletia Manemane, another group member, said Baisa deliberately intensifies its engagement with young people during school holidays when many are out of school.
This year’s August holiday tournament has attracted 11 men’s teams and seven women’s teams, with matches played daily over a three-week programme.
Manemane said organising the tournament has cost the group more than Sh500,000 annually, with members helping to finance the activities. He said farming also helps the group sustain some of its programmes.
“We want to have a society that is free from drug and substance abuse. Idle youth contribute to insecurity in a society,” she said.
Baisa has about 240 male and 63 female members, with approximately 80 per cent actively participating in its activities. The membership draws from villages across Burat Ward.
For athlete Esmit John, the initiative is also creating opportunities for young people to discover and develop their talents.
“This initiative is key in supporting young people to establish and grow their talents. Baisa has done a lot for the community,” John said.
However, he said the group’s activities were difficult to sustain without outside support, calling on the government to invest in community-driven youth initiatives.
“The county government has failed us in ensuring there is a stadium that can offer a space for local talents. If the county stadium is in good condition, then it means we are all able to benefit,” John said.
Burat Assistant Chief Elim Ekai said Baisa’s work complements government security efforts by keeping young people engaged and strengthening communication across the ward.
“The group reinforces our security work. By doing the tournament in August, they contribute to our security initiatives,” Ekai said.
He said the group’s membership, from different parts of the ward also supports early warning efforts as members can relay information about emerging insecurity concerns.
“They come from different areas and therefore support us in early warning systems by relaying information on insecurity issues,” Ekai said.
Beyond insecurity, Ekai said the group’s engagement gives young people an opportunity to discuss other challenges, including early marriages and teenage pregnancies, while exchanging ideas on business and other constructive activities.
“The group has been reinforcing our work, as administrators but they need support in terms of capacity building and exposures because the only thing they do is soccer,” he said.
The group is now calling for greater government and partner support, noting that investing in youth-led initiatives can strengthen both livelihoods and peace in Burat.