Mazingira Day '26!

What happens when football takes the game beyond the pitch and into the community?

On 10 October, as Kenya marked Mazingira Day, Sports for Greener Environment reminded us that football can do more than bring people together to play. It can inspire collective action and create change in the communities we serve.

Formerly known as Moi Day, the holiday has evolved into a day dedicated to environmental conservation and collective responsibility.

This year, we had two groups, one at Kiwanja and another at Kahawa West, allowing us to cover more ground than usual. With at least 10 football teams represented, players, captains and team managers came together, not to compete, but to clean our surroundings and contribute to a greener environment.

Equipped with gloves, waste bags and masks, we collected plastic waste around football grounds and neighboring areas.

Schools were also well represented, with students and teachers taking part in the clean-up activities. We also planted trees at Kiwanja Secondary School. I believe involving schools in such initiatives helps nurture environmental responsibility among young people. Schools do more than educate; they also help shape responsible citizens.

Kenya has an ambitious goal of growing 15 billion trees by 2032. Through collective action and a commitment to nurturing what we plant, I believe we can play our part in achieving this goal as a sports community.

A big thank you to our partners, Kenyatta University Teaching and Research Hospital, Farmers Choice, Peptang, Choice Meats, Mt Kenya Hub, Kahawa Sports Association and the Nairobi City County Government, for their support and participation in making the day's activities a success.

To every individual and team that showed up, thank you for being part of the change.

Football can do more than bring people together to play. It can bring us together to make a difference.