The security department through the Tourist Police Unit (TPU) in conjunction with the County Government of Lamu, the Lamu Tourism Association (LTA) and the County Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has launched a special football tournament meant to end insecurity incidences in the archipelago attributed to ‘Panga Boys’ and the drug menace.
The three-week’s tournament involves footballers under the age of 18 years with sixteen (16) football clubs from various areas of Lamu Island incorporated.
Clubs featured are Nyundo FC, Crocodile FC, AC Milan, Swafaa FC, Dragon Fly FC, Al Aman, Kashmir City, Real Madrid FC, Rising Stars, Gen 2, Mararani FC, Lamu Boys FC, Home Boys FC, Al Azhar, Riyadha FC and Ukhtein FC.
The tournament was launched at the Twaifu Grounds in Mkomani Ward, Lamu Island on Monday afternoon and presided over by Lamu County Sports Director Peter Ndichu, top security bosses, LTA chair Fridah Njeri, County FKF officials among others.
Speaking during the launching event, tournament organizing committee secretary, who is also the Lamu County FKF Youth Representative, Mr Athman Farid, popularly known as Pirezi, urged the youth to love one another and avoid getting involved in criminal gangs, drugs and substance abuse.
“This particular tournament has been organized specifically with the aim of fighting and eradicating criminal acts, especially those involving knivesand panga attacks within Lamu. That’s why the tournament’s name goes as: ‘Weka Panga Chini, Chukua Mpira-Jenga Amani na Mustakabali wa Vijana,’ loosely translated as ‘Put the Sword, Panga Down, Pick Up the Ball -Build Peace and the Future of Youth.’ Let’s love each other and maintain peace as we play,” said Mr Farid.
His sentiments were echoed by the Lamu Tourism Association (LTA) Chairperson, Ms Fridah Njeri, who stressed that for Lamu to attract more national and international visitors and massive investments, peace and tranquility must be maintained.
“Lamu is a tourist attraction site. It’s a Unesco World Heritage Site where visitors always like coming to familiarize themselves with our decades-old culture and traditions. We also have historical buildings and monuments that fascinate most of the visitors coming here. All that can’t happen if we lack peace. Let’s use this league to preach peace so that our Lamu remains a good place for visitors to come, enjoy themselves. This will also improve our economy,” said Ms Njeri.
Lamu County Sports Director, Mr Peter Ndichu, explained that apart from tackling drugs and the ‘Panga Boys’ challenge, the launched football tournament will also be used by various scouts who will be identifying football talents among the participating youths in order to find them a chance to play outside Lamu.
Ali Shukri, a former footballer in Lamu and match officiating referee, termed the tournament as a new dawn in the fight against panga boys and drugs in the archipelago.
Mr Shukri noted that football as a game always unites people of diverse cultures and religions.
“Football unites people as a global language that builds community, breaks down barriers and heals divides. Apart from Lamu, football is played and loved everywhere, crossing all national, cultural and money borders. I advise participants in this particular tournament to take it seriously. Let us observe discipline, follow rules, shake hands and learn to respect all of us,” said Mr Shukri.
Veteran Coach, Jaffer Agoi Miheso, called on youth with various talents, including football to desist from drug abuse as consumption of narcotics and other substances has no benefit rather than killing the talents.
Mr Miheso also called for such tournaments to be organized from time to time across the archipelago.
He also insisted on the need for frequent psychosocial support and training for youth as that helps them find dignity in their hobbies such as football playing rather than falling into cycles of drug abuse or illegal activities.
“By organizing these tournaments frequently, our Lamu community will fully reclaim its neighborhoods from fear by ensuring that young energy is used to compete for pride, not to perpetrate violence,” said Mr Miheso.
The opening match at Twaifu Grounds saw Nyundo FC thrashing Crocodile Junior FC 2-0.
This is not the first time that peace campaigns through sports are organized in Lamu.
In May this year, Lamu youth participated in a one-day donkey race for peace initiative aimed at fostering reconciliation, unity and social cohesion among communities.
This was after Lamu witnessed several months of insecurity incidents, including violent attacks, deaths and civil unrest involving youths armed with machetes, commonly known as panga boys.
The unique, cultural and peace-building event was organized by the Municipality of Lamu, a chartered local government entity under the County Government of Lamu mandated with devolved municipal functions.
It brought together hundreds of young people from across Lamu Island and Lamu East.
The winner of the 2026 Lamu Donkey Race for peace was a 13-year-old boy Jamil Omar with his donkey nicknamed ‘Jagutai.’
He beat nine other competitors and received Sh50,000, a branded jersey, a trophy and three bags of donkey feed.
A 14-year-old Ibrahim Abdi with his donkey nicknamed ‘Ramish’ emerged second and bagged Sh30,000 plus two bags of donkey feed while the third-place winner was Haddad Ali,13, with his donkey named ‘Bullet.’
He received Sh20,000 and one bag of donkey feed.
