Nairobi: SportPesa’s Tujiamini initiative is redefining the impact of its Gold Awards of Sh 1 million by channelling support towards community-led projects that are driving real transformation across Kenya. Through this approach, the initiative is turning its prestigious awards into powerful engines of grassroots empowerment and sustainable change.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative, which runs monthly campaigns across the country, has so far unveiled standout Gold Award winners: two from Central Kenya and one from Western Kenya. These individuals are driving impactful change in agriculture, health education, and the media, proving that belief in oneself, or Tujiamini, can fuel transformative progress at the community level.
In Kutus village, Kirinyaga County, Henry Mwendia leads a dynamic group of dairy farmers who also run and support a local football team, Home base FC, made up of both junior and senior players participating in different leagues. Their model not only nurtures young talent but also ensures equal playtime for all players, fostering inclusivity and growth. The profits generated from their decentralised dairy farms are pooled together to support and sustain the football team’s operations and activities. With the equipment acquired through the Tujiamini award, they are now venturing into milk value addition to create more jobs for the youth and boost profitability. “With the Tujiamini award, we are about to start our value addition project and enhance our profit. This was part of our five-year plan, but with Tujiamini, we can gladly say we are living in the 2028 dream,” said Mwendia.
Another standout from Kerugoya in Kirinyaga County is Patricia Henry, a Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics expert working in the Mt. Kenya region. She has been at the forefront in educating farmers on the harmful effects of chemical-laden agriculture while championing the return to indigenous crops as healthier and more sustainable alternatives. Through her advocacy, Patricia educates farmers on the health risks of using harmful agricultural chemicals and promotes a return to indigenous, sustainable crop cultivation. Her advocacy has seen many embrace healthier practices, culminating in a graduation ceremony for certified farmers. “The equipment I have received through Tujiamini will help me have more interactive sessions with my farmers and expand the capacity of my classes and lessons,” Patricia shared.
In Western Kenya, Busia Border FM, broadcasting on 89.9 FM, is making a significant impact in Marachi, a region grappling with crime and drug abuse. The station reaches over 500,000 listeners and has positioned itself as a hub for youth empowerment by offering training in media production and platforms for emerging talent. Through the Tujiamini support, the station has now acquired new studio equipment, including a broadcast mixer, microphones, and headphones, thus helping them improve their production standards and deepen their impact.
Speaking on behalf of SportPesa, Nelson Odero commended the grassroots innovation demonstrated by the winners. “We are incredibly proud to witness the tangible change our Tujiamini Gold Award winners are driving in their communities. These are stories of resilience, innovation, and purpose. We encourage individuals and groups from all regions to take part in this initiative and submit their applications,” said Odero.
Tujiamini is a back-to-back initiative that runs its campaigns across the country on a monthly basis and is currently at the coast region. With an annual budget of over Sh30 million, it seeks to support talent, sports, and community through different categories: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Cheza Dimba, specifically tailored for grassroots football teams playing in regional and below leagues. Meanwhile, all passionate and talented individuals across Kenya are encouraged to apply and share their stories by visiting Tujiamini.co.ke.