Grannies’ Football Tournaments Challenge Harmful Practices in West Pokot

Grandmothers from different parts of the county are now taking to football pitches in organized tournaments that aim to promote health, unity and advocacy against practices that negatively affect women and girls. The initiative targets women aged 50 years and above and has grown into a unique social movement where elderly women use sports as a platform to inspire change within their communities.

For decades, practices such as FGM have persisted in parts of the county. The procedure, which involves the painful removal of external female genitalia, is often justified by some communities as a way of controlling women’s sexuality and preserving modesty. However, it is widely recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

Despite ongoing campaigns by government agencies and development partners to eradicate the practice, many girls in some communities still face the risk of undergoing the procedure each year.

To address this challenge, the West Pokot County Department of Gender, Youth and Sports introduced football tournaments for elderly women, popularly known as “grannies,” last year. The program uses sports as a creative platform to educate communities and challenge harmful traditions including FGM, teenage pregnancies, early marriages and gender-based violence.

Beyond advocacy, the initiative has also produced remarkable health benefits for the women involved. Participants say regular physical activity has improved their physical wellbeing while strengthening friendships and social support networks within their communities.

Rose Nyangaita, a grandmother from Keringet village in Kapenguria Constituency, said football has transformed her life both physically and emotionally.

“Before I started playing football, I suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes, but since joining the team my body has become healthier,” she said.

According to Nyangaita, many women in the program have experienced similar improvements in their health.

“Some grannies who were overweight have lost weight, while others who had knee problems say they now feel stronger through the exercises we do while playing,” she added.

She called on the government to continue supporting the program so that more elderly women can participate.

“We ask the government to help us continue playing so that other women at home can also get the chance to join football like we have,” she said.

Another participant, 57-year-old Margaret Tallam from Kamariny village, said the games have strengthened unity among women while helping them manage stress.

“Since we joined the pitch we stay together as a team, exercise regularly and our health has improved. Even our knees have become stronger and we have reduced weight,” she said.

Tallam added that the matches also provide emotional relief from everyday pressures.

“When we arrive at the pitch with stress from home, we return feeling relieved as if the stress has disappeared,” she said, thanking county leaders and organizers for supporting the initiative.

The county government says the tournaments form part of a broader strategy aimed at empowering women while promoting social and behavioural change.

West Pokot County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Gender, Youth and Sports Lucky Litole said the initiative has been well received across the county.

Speaking during one of the tournaments held at the Kapenguria Administration Police Line playing ground, Litole said the event brought together several granny teams from across the county.

“We are very happy with how the teams have played today. We had teams from Keringet, Kangilikwan, Kapenguria and Kamariny, as well as Gen Z teams from Kamariny and Kapenguria,” she said.

According to Litole, sports provide a powerful platform for improving both physical and mental health while also strengthening social bonds among community members.

“When mothers come together to play, they walk, laugh, make friends and build unity. This is part of empowering women through sports,” she said.

She added that the participating grandmothers have now become community ambassadors advocating against harmful cultural practices.

“When they go back to their communities, they educate other mothers that female genital mutilation must stop,” she said.

The county government has also allocated funds to support the teams with equipment such as uniforms and footballs. Officials are also exploring plans to construct more playing fields across the county to encourage wider participation.

West Pokot Chief Officer for Gender, Youth and Sports Edwin Lokomol said the idea for the initiative was inspired by similar programs in neighbouring counties where elderly women use football as a platform for community engagement.

“Our grannies saw women from Elgeyo Marakwet County who represented Kenya in a tournament in Durban, South Africa. They came to our office asking why they could not get the same opportunity,” he said.

Following their request, the county government began organizing teams starting in Keringet village. Interest quickly spread across the region as more women joined the program.

Currently, nearly 14 granny football teams from different parts of West Pokot have expressed interest in participating in the tournaments, highlighting the growing popularity of the initiative.

Lokomol noted that the program has also helped participants manage lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

“Sports help reduce stress and improve health. Some mothers who had health challenges say they now feel much better after engaging in regular exercise,” he said.

The county government is now planning friendly matches between granny teams from West Pokot and those from neighbouring counties including Nandi County and Elgeyo Marakwet County to expand the initiative and strengthen regional engagement.

For many of the women involved, the tournaments represent more than just physical exercise. They offer opportunities to travel, interact with other communities and advocate for the rights and wellbeing of women and girls.

County officials believe that empowering older women—who often hold significant influence in families and communities—can accelerate efforts to end harmful cultural practices.

By giving grandmothers a platform to speak out and lead by example, the county hopes the message against practices such as FGM will spread more effectively and help protect future generations of girls.

The football tournaments are therefore not only improving the health and wellbeing of elderly women but also transforming them into powerful community champions driving positive social change across West Pokot County.