Pitching Peace: Scouts use football to build cohesion ahead of Kenya’s 2027 elections
On 21 June 2026, Messengers of Peace ambassadors in Kenya turned a football pitch in Nairobi into a space for dialogue and connection for peace. The seven ambassadors had been trained in March 2026 through The Kenya Scouts Association’s National Peace Ambassadors Project. The training focused on civic engagement and equipped them with the skills to mentor their peers on peace, cohesion, and responsible participation ahead of Kenya’s general elections in 2027.
As part of their community action, the ambassadors organised a Peace Tournament that brought together seven teams and more than 100 young people. Participants included Scouts, young people from the Kenya Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), and youth from grassroots communities that have often experienced violence during election periods.
The tournament used sport as a simple and powerful way to bring young people together, regardless of their background or political views. Between matches, the Messengers of Peace ambassadors led small group discussions on peace building, leadership, civic responsibility, and social cohesion. These conversations helped young people share their experiences, build trust, and reflect on their role in creating safer communities. The action also moved beyond the pitch through an online campaign, #PitchingPeace. Using photos, stories, and voices from the tournament, the campaign shared messages of peace and encouraged more young people to take part in promoting peaceful elections.
The seven ambassadors were awarded Messengers of Peace badges in recognition of their leadership and commitment to turning their training into action. Following the success of the tournament, the ambassadors have committed to expanding the initiative to other regions in Kenya until the August 2027 general elections. Their goal is to reach more young people and support them to become champions of peace in their communities.
The tournament was made possible through the generous support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with World Scouting, under the Messengers of Peace Fund.