Hundreds of young people turned up to register as voters and apply for national identity cards during a two-day football tournament held at Approved Grounds in Timbwani, Likoni.
The two-day event brought together 16 teams and attracted over 500 youth from across the sub-county, blending sport with civic engagement in a powerful show of community mobilization.
Officials from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) confirmed that more than 200 new voters were registered in Timbwani over the two days.
The tournament, largely supported by Mombasa youth leader Charles Mghenyi, drew participation from all five wards in Likoni—Likoni, Timbwani, Bofu, Shikaadabu, and Mtongwe.
Speaking during the event, Mghenyi urged young people to take advantage of the ongoing mass voter registration exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“IEBC is targeting over 183,000 new voters in Mombasa. Young people must come out in large numbers to register if they want to influence decisions in the next election,” he said.
Since the exercise began on March 30, more than 22,000 youth in Mombasa have registered as voters according to IEBC.
Mghenyi noted that similar engagements will be rolled out across all six constituencies in Mombasa to sustain the momentum.
Former Likoni MCA Mohamed Kasagamba praised the initiative, saying it had made a significant impact.
“The Tuko Kadi campaign in Likoni has truly gained momentum. We urge more young people to register and take part in shaping their future,” he said.
Salim said, a Likoni youth leader involved in organizing the tournament, described it as a major success, while Kisauni youth leader Juma Boto emphasized the need for youth participation in governance.
“Young people remain under-represented because many do not take part in governance processes. This initiative is about changing that,” said Boto.
He added, “We are not just nurturing talent through sport, but also encouraging young people to register as voters and actively participate in the upcoming General Election,”.
By Sadik Hassan
