How football is giving Karirikania a new face by uniting victims of post-election violence

On December 27, 2007, Kenyans went to the polls to elect people who would govern them for the next five years. Although the days leading up to the elections were filled with tension occasioned by reports of planned rigging by state officials in favour of the ruling party, few would have imagined the outcome of the one-day processs would have left the country on the brink of collapse.

When President Mwai Kibaki was hurriedly sworn in at night three days later amid protests in various parts of the country by supporters of the opposition over claims of rigging, the country went up in flames.

Over 1,200 people lost their lives in the country with thousands displaced due to the violent protests that erupted after Kibaki was announced the winner of the closely contested elections by the Electoral Commission of Kenya chairman Samuel Kivuitu. For the next one month, Kenyans killed each other while property of unknown value was destroyed in the ensuing mayhem.

As the violence raged on in the country even, the world community, led by the African Union, tried to intervene and end the political crisis which was threatening to tore apart East Africa’s largest economy.

Solution found

Even though the country was saved from falling deeper into violence after the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation team chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan spelled out immediate measures to end violence before President Kibaki and Raila Odinga signed the National Accord on February 28, 2008, the scars left behind have haunted some regions to date.

One such region is Karirikania, Nakuru County.

To many who know the topography of Nakuru County, the mention of Karirikania in Kuresoi North conjures up painful memories.

Karirikania was one of the hardest hit places by the 2007/2008 post-election violence that left dozens dead and hundreds displaced.

But small village with a population of slightly over 2000 people has risen from the ashes of the violence and is shading its dark past with football, hitherto not a preferred past-time sport to many in the region, taking the centre stage as a uniting factor. The sport is now giving Karirikania a new face.

Kuresoi, which is famous for the production of potatoes, carrots and horticultural products, is home to 2017 World Marathon champion, Geoffrey Kirui and Faith Chepng'etich, the current Olympic and World 1,500m Champion, among other world-beaters.

Kuresoi is shifting gears from athletics and will soon be producing top-notch football players thanks to a flower farm known as Porini Premium Flowers, part of the Isinya Roses Limited, that has started a football club, the only one in the agriculture-rich region.

Drugs abuse

The multi-billion flower venture is now using football to unite the locals and keep youth away from violent crime, illicit brews and drugs.

The man behind the football team, christened Porini Kipepeo FC, is John Adega.

Adega, who is also the team manager, was also a member of the now defunct Oserian Fastac FC, which clinched the Kenyan Premier League titles in 2001 and 2002.

"The company’s mission is uniting all the communities living in Kuresoi North and beyond through the beautiful game. The company’s top agenda is to use football to bring out the best because the region is capable of producing players to play for Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards and join Harambee Stars in future," said Adega.

"We don't just want to build great players, the company sees football as a force for good, capable of uniting the region and letting its people forget ethnic differences and to rally behind a symbol of national unity," added Adega.

And in the spirit of uniting cosmopolitan residents, the company has envisioned a multi-ethnic football team.

"It is just the beginning of the company's larger vision for the future of football in Kuresoi. I am committed to the success of this up-and-coming football club and I hope it can inspire the next generation of fans, business leaders and entrepreneurs in the same way Porini Premium Flowers has inspired these budding players," said Adega.

Adega said the team, which he started on July 11, 2019, is featuring in Nakuru sub-County Football Kenya Federation (FKF) League and has employed the entire playing unit at Porini Premium Flowers farm.

"Porini Kipepeo FC aims to win the Nakuru sub branch league and be promoted to the National Super League and God willing, we should be playing in the Kenyan Premier League in 2026,” he added.

League stopped

By the time the league was halted by Football Kenya Federation on March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the team was sixth in the sub-branch league having lost one match, won two and drawn another two for a tally of eight points.

The company has renovated the playing grounds at Karirikania Primary School which it uses for its home matches.

Youthful coach Farouk Omar is optimistic the team will clinch the Nakuru sub-branch league eventually when sports return in the country.

"When we started the team last year, football was not the most preferred sport by many youth, but with the sponsorship of Porini Premium Flowers and Fair Trade, the team is picking up well and we target to play top-flight football in the coming years," said Omar, who hails from Malindi in Kilifi County.  

Patrick Rop, the chairperson of Fair Trade which is a saving unit within Porini Premium Flowers, is upbeat the team will be promoted to the top-flight football league.

The collaboration has seen the team acquire playing kits, shoes and other equipment.

"We have also renovated Karirikania Primary School playing ground and this is a win-win situation as pupils will use the pitch to develop their sporting talents," said Rop.

Covid-19

However, one of the challenges affecting the team is the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which has affected the sale of its flowers to European markets.

The players in the team include Thomas Nyakundi (goalkeeper), David Maraga, Samuel Wafula, Dennis Kemei, George Waweru (defenders) Fred Oriangi (midfielder /captain),  Enock Kipng'etich, Vincent Rono, Vincent Lang'at and Edwin Kangongo (strikers).

Others are Benard Kerich, Kibet Rotich, Amos Limo, Paul Njenga, Kipkirui Ng'etich, Thomas Nyakundi, Simon Sifuna, Alex Lang'at, Briton Kitagwa, Charles Odhiambo, Gideon Limo.

The other team officials are Isaac Simiyu (assistant coach) and Peter Gachue (organising secretary).

True to its name, Karirikania, which means remembering in the Kikuyu dialect, the youth have been on the forefront reminding the locals of the effects of violence as witnessed in 2007/08.

These footballers give talks to residents in trading centres, churches and other social gatherings on the dangers of engaging in criminal activities which led to the flare-up of the post-election violence. The violence was mostly propagated by youth who were used by politicians to create mayhem.

And for these initiatives, the locals love them. During league matches and training sessions at Karirikania Primary School, the locals turn out in large numbers to cheer the team.

John Wang'ombe, who is an elder in the area, recalls what followed after the 2007 elections results were hurriedly announced after a three-day delay with tension already hitting a crescendo.

"The situation was bad as houses were burnt, property worth hundreds of thousands went up in smoke and a dozen lives were lost. However, I am happy things have changed and residents have embraced peace and co-existence," Wang'ombe says.

"Football has also helped as it brings all communities together unlike other individual sports. Criminal activities have drastically reduced as many youth are engaged."

Many residents who had fled the area during the chaos have since returned, but they still remember why they fled in the first place.

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