KKitui CECM for Youth, Sports, Gender, ICT, Culture and Social Services, Waziri Phoebe Mutemi, has once again shown why she remains the heartbeat of youth empowerment in Kitui County. She has officially unveiled the first-ever edition of the Governor’s Cup, a countywide soccer tournament that will exclusively feature boys’ and girls’ teams. The initiative is designed to nurture grassroots talent, promote unity, and empower the youth through sports, fulfilling Governor Malombe’s promise of giving young people meaningful opportunities.
Speaking to the press on Thursday 2nd October 2025 waziri Mutemi urged Kitui youth, especially those aged between 18 and 25 years, to register and take part in the historic tournament. She emphasized that the Governor’s Cup is not just about playing football, but about building platforms where the youth can express themselves, showcase their talent, and find hope in constructive activities that tackle issues like drug abuse and mental health challenges.
Over the past two years, Kitui County has invested heavily in sports infrastructure, establishing 21 playgrounds across different wards to create safe spaces for training and competitions. The Governor’s Cup is now set to utilize these facilities, starting with village-level matches in November 2025 before progressing to ward, sub-county, and county levels. This structured format is expected to engage thousands of young people across all corners of Kitui.
The grand finals will be staged in March 2026 at the newly completed 10,000-seater Ithookwe Stadium, which will also serve as the venue for this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations. In order to maintain professionalism and raise the quality of play, the matches will be overseen by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officials. In addition, players from Division One, the Premier League, and universities will be allowed to participate, creating a unique opportunity for upcoming talent to compete with more experienced athletes.
The move has been hailed as a game-changer for local talent by FKF Chair Gilbert Mutema, who noted that the Governor’s Cup will not only elevate football standards in Kitui but also provide an economic boost by attracting scouts, sponsorships, and other sports-related opportunities. “This is how football becomes more than just a game it becomes an accelerator of youth empowerment and economic transformation,” he remarked.
Waziri Mutemi called upon stakeholders, leaders, and lovers of football to rally behind the tournament, saying it will belong to the people of Kitui. “The Governor’s Cup is about the youth their talent, their dreams, and their future. Let us come together to support these teams, because in empowering our players, we are empowering an entire generation,” she said.
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