Unemployment, poverty and idleness have been cited as the major contributor of mass recruitment of youth into immoral behaviors and drug abuse, Kilifi leaders have said.
The leaders led by Watamu ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Ibrahim Matumbo and Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule have launched sensitization initiatives aimed at driving the youth away from bad behavior and anti-societal norms such as drug abuse, crime and same sex relationships popularly referred to as LGBTQ.
While Matumbo is using youth football tournaments to keep the youth busy, Mrs Chibule has turned to town hall lectures to educate the youth and give them hope that they can still lead a better life outside immoral behavior.
Most African countries have outlawed Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) through enacting the anti-homosexual bill with Uganda recently coming up with stiffer penalties for the same.
Mr Matumbo who has organized the Matumbo Super cup that will be taking place every quarter of the year said that most youth in the area had been ensnared into illicit drugs abuse, pornography and homosexuality especially through the internet and that reversing the trend needed concerted efforts by leaders by coming up with slowly but capitative initiatives that will restore the already recruited youth and also prevent more recruitment.
“Leaders should unite and come up with these tournaments all year round to keep the youth busy because we can’t convince the youth to shun drugs and other vices like LGBTQ when there are no alternative activities to do,” he said.
During the finals held at Gede Primary School grounds on Saturday, the winning team walked away with a trophy and Sh. 300,000 prize, the first runners up took a trophy and Sh. 150,000 while the second runners up took Sh. 50,000 with Matumbo promising to increase the prize money to Sh. 1,000,000 in the next tournament.
“I have come up with the money prizes to boost their morale and also encourage them that they can also earn through sports and we must nurture the talents of the youth,” he said.
During the tournament for both boys and girls, the MCA has been inviting football coaches across the country to also identify and tap talents from the local youth with an aim of making them earn from the sport.
Mr Iddi Salim, the coordinator of the Matumbo Super cup said that area youth had sunk into illicit drugs and were increasingly being converted to homosexuals by criminals who pay them a fee.
He condemned proponents of the LGBTQ legalization campaigns saying that the Kenyan population should be steadfast in protecting its values.
“The LGBTQ is giving us sleepless nights and we shall not allow it to spread among our youth and through sports and nurturing talents for financial gains, we are sure we shall arrest the situation,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Mr Mwambire Kazungu, a youth leader in Dabaso area in Kilifi North Sub County, Kilifi County.
“The internet has contributed to the vices and the free internet all over is a good thing but also a bad thing for our youth,” he said.
Mr Alex Kasyoki, a coach with the Christ the King Secondary school in Kajiado county, said that he had come to Watamu to tap into talent and those youth who will make it will also qualify for education scholarships from the institutions.
“I have been watching these boys and I would like to thank Kilifi county for embracing sports. I have already seen some potential talents that I will help get scholarships at our institution and beyond,” he said.
Mrs Chibule while offering town hall lectures for youth at Pwani university warned the youth against joining occultic groups that offer them cheap wealth.
“It is so sad that there are people recruiting youth into such groups such as LGBTQ and it has turned out to be a mental issue and a curse to society. The victims need help because they can still be redeemed,” she said.
KTMN Reporter 
Meza Mwanza