- The weeklong tournament brings together communities affected by years of insecurity and disrupted education.
- Football, volleyball, athletics and traditional dance are providing platforms for dialogue, reconciliation and interaction.
- Organisers hope relationships forged in Tot will strengthen peace across Kerio Valley and neighbouring regions.
Over 2,000 participants have descended on Tot in Kerio Valley for a sporting event whose biggest prize may not be a trophy but the restoration of trust among communities affected by years of insecurity.
The third edition of the Operation Maliza Uhalifu Sports for Peace Tournament has brought together participants from nine counties — Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Marsabit, Isiolo, Samburu and Meru.
The weeklong event, which concludes on Sunday, features more than 40 football teams as well as volleyball, marathon and traditional dance competitions.
Organised under the multi-agency Operation Maliza Uhalifu framework, the tournament is using sport as a vehicle for dialogue, reconciliation and community integration.
The significance of the event is particularly evident in Kerio Valley, where insecurity and banditry have disrupted schools and displaced families.
Repeated attacks have forced schools to close, while parents have moved children away from danger or kept them out of class. Teacher relocations have also left some institutions facing shortages of staff.
The disruption has affected enrolment, attendance and academic performance, with prolonged insecurity putting learners at risk of dropping out and missing important examinations.
Against this background, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich said bringing communities together in Tot was a deliberate statement about the region’s changing fortunes.
“Today, Tot is hosting more than a sporting competition,” Rotich said. “We are hosting communities from nine counties who have come together to send a clear message that peace, unity and brotherhood must triumph over conflict and division.”
Rotich said young people could play an important role in changing attitudes across communities.
“When young people play together, compete fairly and interact freely, they begin to see each other as friends and partners rather than as people divided by boundaries or past conflicts,” he said.
The county government has supported the event by providing uniforms to the 40 participating football teams.
“We are proud to support this tournament because investing in peace is investing in the future of our people,” Rotich said.
Building trust through sport
Edwin Seroney, the county executive for Public Service Management, Devolution and ICT, represented the governor at the opening ceremony and said the tournament demonstrated the need for collective responsibility.
“Peace is a shared responsibility,” Seroney said. “It requires the participation of communities, security agencies, county governments, the national government, elders, religious leaders, women and, most importantly, the youth.”
He said sport and cultural activities were providing opportunities for communities to challenge stereotypes and develop relationships.
“These engagements help to break stereotypes, build trust and strengthen the bonds that are necessary for lasting peace,” he said.
The Kenya Defence Forces is supporting the peace initiative through civil-military cooperation activities, adding a community engagement dimension to its role under Operation Maliza Uhalifu.
Lt. Col. Martin Muthaura, the tournament’s organising committee leader, said the event was intended to create space for communities to reconnect.
“Our objective is to create an environment where communities can meet, interact and build friendships,” Muthaura said.
He said the initiative reflected a broader understanding of what was required to end insecurity.
“Lasting peace requires more than security patrols and law enforcement. It also requires trust, dialogue and strong relationships between communities and the institutions responsible for their security,” he said.
Peace beyond the playing field
County Peace Coordinator Lawrence Mutwol said participants had an opportunity to carry the peace message beyond Tot.
“This event allows us to strengthen the peace structures that have been established across the region,” Mutwol said.
Operation Maliza Uhalifu Chairperson Job Mwetich said the participation of nine counties demonstrated the importance of regional cooperation.
“Criminal activities and insecurity do not respect county boundaries. That is why our response must also be collective,” he said.
Mwetich said organisers would consider the tournament a success if participants returned home with relationships that could help prevent future conflict.
“The medals and trophies are important, but the biggest prize must be peace,” he said.
The tournament builds on broader efforts under Operation Maliza Uhalifu to combine security measures with community engagement and peacebuilding.
READ ALSO: Schools urged to prepare early for El Niño and protect learning
As the final competitions approach on Sunday, Tot is therefore serving as more than a sporting venue. It has become a meeting point for communities seeking to replace suspicion with friendship and conflict with dialogue — with organisers hoping the lessons learnt on the field will continue in classrooms, homes and villages across the North Rift.
By Kimutai Langat
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.
