Saturday, June 27, 2026(MERU COUNTY)__The inaugural Kazi Majuu Football Tournament, was held at Mitoone Primary School in Buuri Constituency, on Saturday, bringing together more than 60 competing teams in a showcase of Diaspora Mashinani initiative advanced through sport diplomacy.
Led by the Patron, Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary, Ms. Roseline Kathure Njogu, the event, themed-Mashinani to Majuu:Local talent,global opportunities, was organized to promote youth empowerment, community cohesion and public awareness of government programmes that touch the lives of young people especially empowerment programmes.
In her remarks, PS Njogu highlighted the Government of Kenya’s commitment to equipping youth with information and opportunities that support productive engagement both at home and abroad.
She encouraged young people to take advantage of available programmes and emphasized the importance of responsible decision-making when considering overseas employment.
The diaspora mashinani initiative uses outreach and dialogue to raise awareness about safe, ethical and legal labour mobility and to strengthen the role of diaspora diplomacy in national development.
Complementing the on-field action, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs’ officers engaged directly with the youth, spectators and participants offering one-on-one advisory services and distributing informational materials.
The outreach focused on building awareness of official channels for assistance, steps to take during the recruitment process, and mechanisms for reporting distress cases. The direct engagement aims to reduce the risks that youth face when seeking employment opportunities abroad.
Community leaders lauded the tournament for blending sports with civic education on labour mobility and international job opportunities.
By leveraging the universal appeal of football, the Diaspora Mashinani programme hopes to deepen community ties, enhance youth awareness about ethical labour mobility, and strengthen collaboration between the diaspora, government agencies and local communities.
The event was attended by several Principal Secretaries, elected leaders, the National Government Administration Officers(NGAO), youth representatives and the community in Buuri Constituency.