Leonard Munene kicks off a brighter future for Kariobangi youth

After the final whistle, boys cheered, their medals swinging from their necks. On the sidelines, parents clapped proudly while girls held their new exercise books, pens, and packets of sanitary pads handed out earlier that day.

At the center of it all stood 21-year-old Leonard Munene.

“This is not just football,” Leonard told the crowd. “It’s about building young people’s future—together.”

The Back-to-School Tournament was his idea: an event blending sports, fun, and life-skills education for adolescents in Kariobangi. The neighbourhood is full of contrasts—vibrant youth, yet scarce opportunities. Violence, unemployment, and limited access to health services weigh heavily on young people’s futures. Leonard knows this reality well.

“I remember days when I wondered if there was anything better waiting for me. Most of us didn’t believe we had the power to change our lives, let alone our community.”

For years, Leonard drifted between odd jobs, lacking direction—not talent or drive. His turning point came when he joined YSW and was trained in Peer Education, Leadership, and Paralegal skills.

“Before, I didn’t think I had what it takes to lead,” he reflects. “The training gave me confidence, but more importantly, they gave me a mission—to create opportunities for other young people like me. Now I know change starts with us.”

Since then, Leonard has worn many hats. As a Peer Educator, he shares accurate reproductive health information with adolescents, helping them make informed choices.

As a Community Health Promoter, he connects youth to essential services. As an environmental champion with Kazi Mtaani, he mobilises peers to restore public spaces, proving that small acts build community pride.

And as Kariobangi’s youth leader, he represents young voices in decision-making forums.

Leonard also founded Watu Wa Save, a youth-led movement teaching financial literacy and savings culture. “Many of us live for today,” he explains. “I wanted young people to start planning for tomorrow.”

His quiet but consistent leadership has earned admiration.

Fellow peer educator Teresa Alubala says, “Working alongside Leonard is inspiring. He shows us leadership isn’t about titles but impact. His dedication pushes us to do more.”

Parents echo this sentiment. At the tournament, one mother said, “When our children see Leonard, they see a future that looks like them.”

Leonard’s story is part of a larger movement. Across Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, more than 500 young people have been trained as peer educators, youth leaders, and advocates. They are organising savings groups, leading SRHR campaigns, and ensuring adolescents can access reproductive health services.