Kenya American Football Federation partners with NGO to grow flag football in Kibera
Reading Time: 4min | Mon. 04.08.25. | 15:14
The initiative will target 10 primary schools within Kibera, with each expected to train 20–25 learners and form Flag Football teams of 10 players for interschool competitions
Over 250 primary school children and 22 Physical Education (PE) teachers in the Kibera Slums are set to benefit from sports skills, thanks to a collaboration between the Kenya Federation of American Football (KFAF) and The Trueness Project.
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The two organisations have partnered to launch a Flag Football training program, aiming to empower youth through sport while equipping teachers with the skills to grow and sustain the game in their respective schools.
The initiative will target 10 primary schools within Kibera, with each expected to train 20–25 learners and form Flag Football teams of 10 players for interschool competitions.
The non-contact nature of Flag Football makes it an inclusive sport, with both boys and girls set to participate and benefit from this initiative.
Mozzart Sport caught up with KFAF President, George Alwanga, who noted that the program would be crucial in empowering the children through sports, especially during the August school holiday.
“Our goal is to empower youth through sports, specifically American Football, by opening up opportunities such as scholarships, travel, and international exposure.
This project aligns with our long-term vision: to grow participation, especially in Flag Football, and bring more schools on board through training and capacity building,” the eloquent President offered.
The initial week-long training will focus on the basics of the sport, such as game strategy, play-calling, and fundamentals, before introducing more advanced techniques.
Through this, the 22 PE teachers will be trained to deliver sessions, coach school teams, and eventually support officiating efforts in tournaments.
But how will they measure the project's success?
“We will track the number and gender of trained coaches and PE teachers, along with metrics like school participation, tournament intensity, and community impact.
Long-term, we hope to establish a national refereeing system, scholarship pathways, and exchange programs to grow the sport further,” Alwanga revealed.
The Trueness Project, a global 501 (c)(3) humanitarian nonprofit headquartered in Wyoming, USA, committed to promoting talent, education, mentorship, and community development, sees this as a powerful tool to unlock youth potential in Kenya and beyond.
According to Benvictor Makau, Assistant Director of The Trueness Project, the nonprofit hand-picked Flag Football because it is one of the fastest-growing sports globally and already has numerous sponsorship opportunities, especially in the USA.
This context gives the two parties a strategic advantage in identifying and securing scholarship opportunities for talented youth, making it easier to link deserving players from Kibera to academic and athletic programs abroad.
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“We chose Flag Football because it’s a firmly established sport in the USA, and many organisations and educational institutions abroad are offering scholarship and sponsorship opportunities for top talent.
Being a new yet fast-growing sport in Africa, we saw an opportunity to introduce it in Kibera and grow it across the continent,” Benvictor noted.
He went on to explain that beyond athletic skills, participants will gain life skills such as resilience, teamwork, leadership, and confidence. Coaches, in turn, will learn how to monetise their skills and even start local clubs.
“Our mission is to help youth realise their potential and turn it into wealth and impact. Flag Football allows us to scout talent, support scholarships, and help coaches monetise their skills after training,” he explained.
The rollout begins with a one-week training camp, followed by six months of virtual and in-person follow-up clinics guided by KFAF and The Trueness Project.
Monitoring will include school participation, tournament activities, talent scouting, gender inclusivity, and community impact.
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This will not be the first humanitarian support to the slums from The Trueness Project. The organisation has previously donated sanitary pads to over 3,550 school-going girls, distributed more than 2,000 leadership and financial literacy books, and mentored over 17,200 learners across Kenya, Tanzania, and Nepal.
It has also supported children’s homes with food, clothing, and personal essentials, as well as backed arts and crafts training programs in Egypt.
“Now, we want to scale Flag Football beyond Kibera, creating jobs and transforming communities through sport,” Benvictor added.
On her side, M. Teresa Lawrence, JD, DHL, President and Executive Director of The Trueness Project, expressed her excitement at the program’s potential and called on like-minded individuals to support the initiative.
“It has always been my dream to see Flag Football take root in Africa. I’m proud to lead this program in Kibera and hope to see it grow across the continent. I invite like-minded individuals to join us at The Trueness Project and make this dream a reality,” she said.
Through more partnerships and goodwill, the NGO believes that this is a timely stepping stone to transform Kenya and the entire Africa through Flag Football.
