BUNGOMA, Kenya – Governor Kenneth Lusaka of Bungoma County has inaugurated the ‘Lusaka Cup’, a football tournament designed to engage local youth and address the increasing rates of teenage pregnancy in the county. The tournament, themed ‘Sakata boli, Epuka boli’, is part of the governor’s initiative to empower youth through sports.

According to Kenya News Agency, Lusaka highlighted the tournament’s role in keeping youths productive during the long festive season and promoting positive virtues. The initiative is a proactive step to engage the youth in constructive activities, thereby reducing teenage pregnancies. Lusaka stressed that the idle minds of youth, compounded by the lack of employment, often lead to unproductive behaviors, which the tournament aims to counteract.

This annual tournament will involve teams from all 45 wards in Bungoma, with grand prizes for the winners. The launch event featured a friendly match between Bungoma Superstars and Bungoma Stars at Uwanja Ndege Grounds in Kanduyi Sub County, drawing in thousands of football fans.

The initiative follows a recent report that ranked Bungoma County third nationwide in teenage pregnancies. The event was attended by Deputy Governor Janepher Mbatiany, various Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), County Executive Committee Members (CECMs), including Eng. Agnes Wachiye (Youth and Sports), Caro Makali (Trade), Dr. Andrew Wamalwa (Health), Douglas Sasita (Lands), and other senior county staff.