A new chapter in youth empowerment was unveiled in Kiambu Town Constituency after Member of Parliament Hon. Machua Waithaka officially launched the Hon. Machua Waithaka Annual Indoor Games Championship, an initiative aimed at nurturing talent, promoting healthy competition, and steering young people away from drugs, alcoholism, and idleness.
The championship, inaugurated at the Ndumberi ICT Hub, will now become an annual event bringing together hundreds of young people to compete in indoor sporting and recreational disciplines including chess, scrabble, darts, table tennis, draughts, badminton, dancing, and other talent-based activities.
Speaking during the launch, Waithaka said the initiative is designed to provide young people with opportunities to discover and develop their talents while creating pathways to national and international competitions.
“Today marks the beginning of a very important journey for the youth of Kiambu Town Constituency. Our vision is to provide a platform where young people can sharpen their skills, build friendships, discover their talents, and unlock opportunities that can transform their lives,” he said.
The legislator noted that while Kenya has earned global recognition in athletics, other sporting disciplines remain largely untapped despite the abundance of talent at the grassroots.
“We always celebrate our athletes at the Olympics, but countries like China, the United States and Russia excel in many other sports. We want to change that narrative by identifying talent at the grassroots and nurturing it until our youth compete nationally and internationally,” Waithaka said.
He expressed optimism that future national, African and world champions in games such as chess, darts and table tennis could emerge from Kiambu.
Waithaka emphasized that the championship is part of a broader strategy to address the growing challenge of youth unemployment, drug abuse and alcoholism, particularly in Ndumberi and other parts of Kiambu Constituency.
He lamented the increasing number of young people whose lives have been destroyed by alcohol and substance abuse, attributing much of the problem to lack of constructive engagement.
“There has been a very big problem with alcohol abuse among our young men and women because many of them remain idle. We have therefore started programmes that will engage them every weekend through leagues and competitions so that they have something meaningful to do,” he said.
The MP announced plans to establish regular weekend leagues in games such as badminton and draughts, where participants will compete for prizes while continuously improving their skills.
He further revealed that officials from the Ministry of Sports had already visited the constituency to provide technical guidance on organizing structured competitions and talent development programmes.
Waithaka said his long-term goal is to partner with national sports federations, including the Chess Kenya Federation, Kenya Scrabble Association, Kenya Darts Association, Kenya Table Tennis Association and Kenya Draughts Association, to identify and nurture talent.
The partnerships, he said, would facilitate coaching, certification of referees, organization of competitive tournaments and creation of pathways for young people to represent Kenya internationally.
“We want our youth to wear the Kenyan flag proudly in international competitions. We believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. This initiative is about ensuring every gifted young person gets that opportunity,” he added.
He also appealed to fellow Members of Parliament to invest more in youth sports and advocated for the return of sports funding under the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), arguing that constituencies are better placed to identify and nurture local talent.
“Seventy percent of Kenya’s population is made up of young people. We need sports programmes at the constituency level because that is where talent begins,” he said.
Participants described the championship as a timely intervention that offers young people an alternative to drug abuse while creating opportunities for networking, mentorship and personal development.
Joakim, a chess player who had progressed to the next rounds of the competition, said the games had given young people a platform to showcase their abilities.
“This programme gives us somewhere to spend our weekends instead of engaging in drugs or other harmful activities. It should happen more often because it allows us to improve our skills and compete with one another,” he said.
Another participant, Joe Kherea, praised the MP for bringing together youths from different backgrounds.
“Today, instead of being scattered in different places, young people are here exchanging ideas, making friends and discovering their talents. Activities like chess, dancing, scrabble and draughts help us grow both socially and mentally,” he said.
He suggested that similar events should be organized every few months and replicated across Kiambu County.
Religious leaders and community members also hailed the initiative, saying it would help address social challenges affecting young people.
Reverend John Mwangi described the championship as a significant milestone in youth empowerment.
“Many young people have no jobs. When they are given opportunities to showcase their talents, they gain hope and direction. Talent can transform lives if properly nurtured,” he said.
He encouraged organizers to expand future editions to include football, athletics and other outdoor sports to reach even more young people.
Participants in the darts competition also emphasized the importance of indoor games in promoting mental wellness and social interaction.
Daniel Mutuku, a member of Kiambu Darts, said the tournament had provided meaningful engagement for young people.
“These activities keep the youth active mentally and physically. Instead of wasting time, they interact, learn from one another and build healthy relationships. Such programmes have a positive impact on our communities,” he said.
Waithaka reiterated that the Annual Indoor Games Championship forms part of his wider agenda of investing in education, digital skills, sports, arts and entrepreneurship.
He urged parents, teachers, community leaders and other stakeholders to support the programme and help create an environment where talent is identified, nurtured and celebrated.
“This championship should become a symbol of hope, unity, excellence and opportunity. Our greatest resource is our people, and investing in our youth is investing in the future of Kiambu and Kenya,” he said.
The launch concluded with competitive matches across various disciplines, with organizers expressing confidence that the annual championship will become a major talent development platform capable of producing future national and international champions while fostering discipline, teamwork and community cohesion among the youth.
