The roar of the crowd, the rhythm of drums and the sparkle of youthful talent lit up the final match of the Wema Girls Cup, a grassroots football tournament that has steadily grown into a powerful tool for social change in Bungoma County.
At the centre of it all stood Elizabeth Juma, the Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bukembe Development Organization whose vision continues to use games and sports as a shield against early pregnancies and a ladder to opportunity for school going girls.
According to the report by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) 2025, 253 sexual gender based violence cases are ongoing before Bungoma court.
The cases are distributed in Bungoma Courts as follows: Bungoma law court (92), Sirisia Law Court (42), Webuye Court (49) and Kimilili Law court (80).
In 2023, a report by the Ministry of Health (MOH) revealed a shocking case at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Chesikaki Ward, Mt Elgon Constituency where 54 students were found to be pregnant.
The findings showed that 31 were already teen mothers, 20 were expectant while three had dropped out of school.
Further, MOH statistics indicated that between January and July 2023 at least 196 girls aged between 10–14 and another 7,270 aged 15–19 had fallen pregnant in Bungoma.
In 2022, the county recorded 12,103 cases of teenage pregnancies, while 2021 had seen 14,054 cases, one of the highest figures nationally.
Speaking during the finals that brought together 20 teams, Juma said the tournament was deliberately initiated to keep girls meaningfully engaged during school holidays, a period she noted is often marked by increased risks of early pregnancies and school dropouts.
“Football is more than a game. It keeps girls busy, disciplined and focused, while opening doors to education and talent development,” she said.
The eagerly awaited final pitted Bumunaa Queens against Mulembe Starlets in a thrilling encounter that showcased skill, determination and teamwork.
After a spirited contest, Mulembe Starlets emerged champions, drawing cheers from fans that had turned up to witness the climax of the tournament.
Juma revealed that this year’s competition marked the 7th edition of the Wema Girls Cup, a milestone that reflects the tournament’s growing impact across the community.
Over the years, she said, the initiative has evolved beyond football into a holistic mentorship and empowerment programme.
“One of our biggest successes is seeing girls who were discovered through this tournament earn scholarships and proceed to national schools,” she noted.
She added, “Some of them are currently studying at Chakol girls and they are doing extremely well academically and in sports,”
According to Juma, the tournament has directly reached more than 400 girls, many of whom come from vulnerable backgrounds, she added that each team had an average of 20 girls.
She emphasized that before the ball even kicked off, the participants underwent guiding and counselling sessions at the Mabanga Agricultural Training Centre, where they received mentorship on life skills, reproductive health, self-esteem and the importance of education from women leaders in the community.
“We prepare them mentally and emotionally before they step onto the pitch. We want to build confident girls who understand their worth, both on and off the field,” she said.
Between 2016 and July 2023, Bungoma recorded 9,089 cases of sexual and gender-based violence involving girls aged 10–17, compared to 18,510 nationally.
The 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) reported that 62 percent of Bungoma women have experienced physical or sexual violence, while the county accounts for 19 percent of all teenage pregnancies in Kenya.
Juma called upon other development organizations and the Bungoma County Government to partner with Wema Bukembe Development Organization in expanding the reach of the tournament.
“With more support, we can reach many more girls in our villages. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Partnerships will help us scale up this programme and touch more lives,” said.
