Drama, Dance, Music, & Sport for Kisumu Youth

The Manyatta Youth Resource Centre (MYRC), with principal funding from Equip Manyatta, is unusual in that it offers a broad array of programs.  These include arts, performance, health education, women’s empowerment, and peace building as well as football teams for boys and girls ranging from little ones under 10 years old all the way up to a young adult team that is consistently a powerhouse of talent and a source for recruitment by top pro teams in Kenya and overseas.  The recent homecoming of one of our own demonstrates the strength of the football program that has helped to change the lives of many of our young people.

It was announced in late January 2026 that former Manyatta United star Benson O has officially joined Nairobi United ("Naibois") on a two-year deal, bringing him back home from his position with Cambodian side Visakha FC.  Benson started his training with the MYRC around age 16 after playing on small neighborhood teams.  He was one of the stars in 2019 when we won the national final of the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom tournament. In a 2020 article published by the Safaricom Newsroom site, Benson says, “Manyatta are a serious organization, with several youth teams from the Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 going up and they also focus on developing kids wholesomely. The organization is the envy of all kids growing up in the neighborhood. I was very happy to join,”

Thanks to the Chapa Dimba win, Benson got to travel to Spain with the Chapa Dimba All Stars team, which trained with professionals there and watched a match between Barcelona and Girona. “We played high profile friendly matches. That too was a big opportunity for me to improve my game,” Benson added.

After his return from Spain, he was picked up for his first professional position by powerhouse team Gor Mahia, where he was a 'Golden Boot' winner.

At Nairobi United he will reunite with his younger brother Duncan, who is also in the club.  In 2025, Nairobi United was elevated from the Kenyan National Super League to the 2025-26 Premier League, (officially known as the SportPesa League) which stands as the top league in Kenya.   

The MYRC provides opportunities and, with good fortune, many of our young people really thrive.  Currently, along with our senior team Manyatta United with 30 players, MRYC fields five younger teams that engage an additional 165 girls and boys every week.  We have 11 active Coaches and two staffers doing office work, and we recently completed a successful capacity-building review.   

In addition to our football teams, another 45 young people are regularly engaged in the Arts programs and basic computer training.  Most of these young people, as well as the football team members, regularly enjoy our Saturday lunch program.  Many also engage with our regular workshops on health, non-violence, community building and other important topics.  

As we move forward this year, we are committed to trying to improve our ability to provide a broad range of programs that will help young people with all sorts of talents and interests to make better lives for themselves and improve their communities.  Thank you for all you have done in the past to make the MYRC a thriving force for good.  With your help, we hope to have a strong 2026.        

The Training of Trainers workshop, hosted by Manyatta Youth Resource Centre, helped educate MYRC leaders and others about how to use our sports and arts programs to more effectively interact with young people as they deal with the many challenges facing them today.  The workshop was facilitated by MidRift Hurinet, a non-profit founded in 2009, around the same time as the MYRC, in response to the extreme post-election violence in Kenya.  MidRift Hurinet works on peace building and non-violence education training by helping leaders and mentors better respond to the young people in our programs.

Participants were guided through age-effective strategies, learning how to help stressed young people and identify those who might need more intensive engagement.  The training emphasized leadership as a value system, teaching coaches and mentors to cultivate resilience, empathy, and accountability among the youth they guide. 

Discussions on emerging issues, from peer pressure to the risks of unemployment and violence, reminded participants that the playing field is also a classroom for life skills and a way to energize social transformation.  One of the principal purposes of the MYRC has always been to help channel our youth’s energy into productive activities that lead to more stable, productive communities.  The Training of Trainers workshop allowed our leaders and mentors to amplify their skills to help reach those goals.

One of the workshop leaders was Aguero.  Once caught in a dangerous cycle of gang activity, Aguero’s life turned around when he crossed paths with MYRC Executive Director Oballah, who introduced him to our sports-for-peace programs.  He eventually gained skills as a playmaker, but also rose to become a trainer of trainers, guiding peers with the same lessons that helped save him. 

His transformation has extended beyond the pitch; he participates in climate change initiatives, balances his livelihood with a motorbike business, and counsels families who seek his guidance for their children. His acknowledgement of the role of dance, art, and music in inspiring youth reinforces that there are many ways that creativity and resilience can intersect. 

On the football pitch, conflict is inevitable; fouls are made, tempers flare, and mistakes happen. It is within these moments that young people learn to negotiate, forgive, and move forward together.  These lessons extend beyond football fields, preparing young people to handle disputes in classrooms, homes, neighborhoods, and communities.

Among the many challenges for the MYRC, principally funded by Equip Manyatta, is creating pathways that link sports, arts, and music to mentorship, livelihood, and inclusion.  The Training for Trainers event was a solid, effective step along that road. 

We thank you for your support over the years and ask that you help us continue to change lives for the better in these difficult times.