The Forward Kenya Party (FKP) on Saturday carried out a vibrant recruitment and community engagement drive across Machakos and Kitui counties, blending sports, culture, empathy, and grassroots politics in a day defined by unity, purpose, and hope.
The onboarding sessions took place at St. Austine’s during the Malei Cup 4th Edition, a multi-disciplinary sports tournament that brought together teams competing in football, basketball, rugby, volleyball, table tennis, and badminton. The tournament offered an ideal platform for engaging young people—many of whom continue to lag behind due to limited access to structured sporting and developmental opportunities.
FKP founding members Mr. Irungu Weru, congratulated teams that emerged top in the competition, including Matuu Heroes, Nairobi Polytechnic, Mwala TVC, Kiambere Complex, Mulala Girls, and St. Austin Matuu Day Secondary School. He applauded their discipline, teamwork, and competitive spirit, noting that sports remain a critical pillar in nurturing leadership, resilience, and unity among Kenya’s youth.
The party further commended the inspiring leadership and commitment of Teacher Tush, Brian Were, and the entire Malei Cup organizing committee, acknowledging their sustained contribution to advancing sports as a vehicle for youth empowerment, discipline, and social cohesion.
From St. Austine’s, the party journeyed past Kilimambogo and into the expansive Yatta Plateau, taking in the breathtaking beauty of a region dotted with mango trees and sustained by rich rural livelihoods. Along the way, party members accompanied one of their own to mourn the loss of a relative—an act that opened doors to deeper engagement with the local community. In shared moments of grief and solidarity, friendships were forged and mutual commitments made to move forward together.
Engaging directly with wananchi, party representatives listened to the concerns, struggles, and aspirations of ordinary Kenyans. While some residents requested “something small” to facilitate support, the party firmly reaffirmed its founding principles: the Forward Kenya Party is a movement shaped by Kenyan millennials and Gen Z—leaders who reject bribery and handouts, and instead stand for integrity, dignity, better representation, and equal opportunity for all.
One of the most touching highlights of the day was a visit to four-day-old Baby Rio, fondly known as “Baby Forward,” at his father’s homestead in Matinyani Ward. The visit symbolized continuity, legacy, and hope. A basin of fresh mangoes was shared as party members bonded with families, reinforcing relationships grounded in community, heritage, and shared destiny.
Later in the day, after a brief misdirection by digital maps and the welcome assistance of a local guide, the party arrived at its final destination to honour an invitation from friends of the Forward Kenya Party. With the games and earlier tears behind them, the atmosphere shifted into a joyful, colourful, and auspicious celebration.
It was a moment that reminded all present that love is kind, compassionate, and participatory—and that love makes life sweet. This, party leaders noted, is the kind of life the Forward Kenya Party envisions for all Kenyans.
With parents bearing witness to enduring bonds formed by their children, the gathering also became a powerful space for engagement with women and mothers, many of whom expressed renewed hope for their children’s futures. Conversations highlighted the harsh socio-economic realities facing the youth, particularly the high cost of living, which has rendered many young people unproductive despite being in their prime years.
The day concluded with music, dance, and celebration as Machakos and Kitui counties were symbolically painted green—marking not just a political activity, but a shared declaration of faith in a forward-looking Kenya.
Kusonga Ni Forward.
