PLAY FOR POLIO PLAY FOR PEACE – FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

Rotary and Rotaract clubs in Nairobi, led by the Rotary Club of Nairobi, on 9th December 2017 held a 74 team seven a side football tournament at Camp Toyoyo grounds in Jericho. The tournament officiated by the District Governor Mr. Peter Mbui brought together over 1200 youth from Nairobi who were playing to promote peace and create awareness on Polio.  The hotly contested community tournament was won by Hakati Youth from Makadara while the Rotary category was won by the Rotaract Club of Milimani.

This tournament, one of the biggest Rotary events of the year 2017/18, marks the beginning of a deliberate campaign to amplify the message of peace and polio and other social issues among the public.

Rotary clubs around the world, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, have contributed towards the eradication of Polio across the world. Currently, there are zero cases of polio in Kenya as a result of this initiative. In his message, Mr. Mbui stressed the importance of coexistence especially among the youth who form the majority of Kenya’s population. He also stressed that Rotary shall continue to support peace initiatives and other social projects falling within its thematic areas of service.

The Rotary clubs also used the opportunity to conduct HIV/AIDS awareness using puppeteers who entertained the youth and distributed several hundred booklets.