How Kibera Reformation and Transformation Centre is helping players to achieve their dreams

Ashley Tracey(L) of Golden Girls FC is tackled by Michelle Gloria(R) of KRTC during Kibera Reformation and Transformation Center (KRTC) football tournament held at Nairobi West Prisons Grounds in Nairobi on Sunday. [Wilberforce Okwiri,Standard]

In the deep slums of Kibera lies a gem that is unearthing talents and transforming lives of players and community at large in away never seen before.

The Kibera Reformation and Transformation Centre (KRTC) is the jewel that is giving upcoming players hope and helping those established to stamp their authority in the sporting direction they have taken.

Formed in 2003 to help youths in the largest slum in the continent get a dignified life, the Community Based Organisation (CBO) now has six teams in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) leagues.

Two men’s teams, Mbotela FC and Young Boys FC are plying trade in the FKF Division Two League while a similar number; Makina FC and Golden Boys FC are sweating it out in the FKF County League. Golden Girls FC and Young Super Eagles are in the FKF women’s county leagues.

“This season, two of our teams were promoted to the Division One, but we didn’t have the financial muscle to honour the countrywide fixtures, so we opted to remain in Division Two,” KRTC Founder Isaac Lumwachi told Standard Sports.

Lumwachi is very proud of the fruits of their 21-year struggle in the slum, an indication that finally there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Kevin Taiwo (Albania), Benson Andaye (an academy coach in Denmark), Steve Ndeche (an academy coach in France), Arnold Onyango (University player in the USA) and James Ndeche (an academy player in Spain) are some of KRTC products who have or are having stints abroad.

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) players who honed their skills at the KRTC are Edwin Shikokoti (Kariobangi Sharks FC), Erick Odhiambo (Tusker FC) and Edwin Zola (formerly of AFC Leopards SC).

Madut Lau, a lanky midfielder cum fullback of Sudanese descent is happy to have recently been drafted into the Kariobangi Sharks U-20 team while Derrick Ongadi is still on trials.

“KRTC has been my home since childhood. This is where I got my first playing boots and a jersey. They arranged my trials at Kariobangi Sharks and I’m glad it was successful, and this is already motivating upcoming players in Kibera to gain confidence and to work hard,” underlined Lau who is a staunch Chelsea Fan and a Cole Palmer fanatic.

Ongadi, who is hopeful that his trials with Kariobangi Sharks will sail through, narrated how the organisation has clothed and fed them since childhood apart from providing for them a platform to play football.

“My first trips outside Nairobi were courtesy of KRTC, and being totally engaged with their programs has helped us escape drug and crime life in Kebera,” highlighted Ongadi, a staunch supporter of Liverpool and its Egyptian striker Mo Salah.

Risper Nalianya, who features for girls’ side Young Super Eagles FC as a defender, is grateful that all her primary and secondary education was catered by KRTC.

” Being engaged here, in both football and social work has made my life productive, some of us girls have been assisted to get basic needs like sanitary pads which we can’t afford at home due to poverty,” narrated Nalianya.

When asked how he feels to see other teams and institutions ‘poach’ talents they have moulded over the years, Lumwachi remarked: ” We feel great, because our aim is to help these players attain their dreams.”

His sentiments were echoed by one of the KRTC many coaches, coach Jack Wanyama, who has been a football tactician at the organisation for the last 21 years.

He said: “When we see our talents succeed, we really feel happy that our vision has been fulfilled. It is also a motivation to the younger players to work hard and develop confidence needed to soar.”

Apart from football, the CBO also prides itself as the pioneer of one of the newest sports in Kenya, Cestoball.

Lumwachi, coaches Lawrence Adera and Joseph Sud are among the cohorts who introduced Cestoball in Kenya in 2022 and since then the game has expanded rapidly with five players: Faith Mbwathi, Janet Achieng, Agnes Miyo, Tracy Adhiambo and Sylvia Anyango currently on professional stints in Argentina.

Lilian Nekesa and Samira Mohamed are on a pro mission in the USA. Also, Adera is now in the US for high level training and coaching.

” We are glad to have pioneered the introduction of Cestoball in Kenya, about three-quarter of the initial national team members were from the KRTC. We are glad that other institutions like the University of Nairobi, Mombasa Polytechnic and the Kenya Police have so far embraced the sport,” said Lumwachi.

“We also have netball and volleyball teams and they are doing so well,” he added.

To ensure that the over 300 youths and players within their mandate are developed holistically, KRTC also has other wings of programs, away from sports, that makes the youngsters rounded.

The programs include Community Service, the Street Children Support, Education, Photography, Small and Medium Enterprises, Security Department and Music- theater, drama and the arts.

Last December, the KRTC security team formed part of the forces that guarded Manchester City FC legends Sam Smedley and Nathan Soulby who ventured deep into Kibera slums for a charity cause.

Currently, the CBO has 42 players on football scholarships, with eight enrolled in the universities locally and abroad.  About 20 other players (10 boys and 10 girls) are on a regular education program.

Edward Wafula being drafted into the Presidential Press Team as a photographer was another great victory for the organisation.

KRTC has also partnered with Kibera’s finest rapper Octopizzo to mentor some of their youth’s pursuing music, drama and theatre.

On financial empowerment and literacy, the youths have been assisted to establish various businesses to earn incomes.

Some of the business entities they have started include Salon and the Beauty shops, movie shops, community bookshops, public toilets, car wash, water vending, community recycling centers and girls workshops (for making soaps and beads).

Stanley Obengo who is in charge of the Street Children Support program says they meet thrice a week with a culmination of a football game every Sunday in Kibera. So far, they have talked to several street children who have turned into a new leaf and have been drafted into various children’s homes.

Wycliff Ndeda, a former Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) player, now a street kid, has pledged to reform so he gets out of the tough street life.

Players/coaches abroad who have been involved with the KRTC

1.Kevin Taiwo- Football, player, Albania

2.Benson Andaye -Football academy coach, Denmark

3.Steve Ndeche- Football Academy coach, France

4.Arnold Onyango – University football player, USA

5.Jame Ndeche -Academy player, Spain

6.Faith Mwathi- Cestoball, Argentina

7.Janet Achieng – Cestoball, Argentina

8.Agnes Miyo- Cestoball, Argentina

9.Tracy Adhiambo- Cestoball, Argentina

10.Sylvia Anyango- Cestoball, Argentina

11.Lilian Nekesa- Cestoball, USA