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Safaricom Powers Safari 7s Experience as Rugby Fans Gear Up for Three Days of Action

By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT 

Safaricom , through M-PESA, has committed KES 2 million to the 2026 Safari 7s as thousands of rugby fans prepare to converge at Nyayo National Stadium for three days of action from 9th to 11th October.
Kenya Lionesses in action during the HSBC SVNS 2 Rugby Tournament held on Saturday,  14 and Sunday , 15 February 2026 at Nyayo National Stadium  in Nairobi. |COURTESY

The support will see Safaricom enhance connectivity across the stadium, while bringing its digital, payment and customer service propositions closer to fans and businesses during the tournament. The company will strengthen network capacity at the venue to enable fans to share and follow the action seamlessly, while dedicated connectivity will support the live broadcast of the tournament. “Safari 7s is an important platform for showcasing Kenya’s sporting talent and bringing fans together. Our support reflects Safaricom’s commitment to using technology, connectivity and digital services to enhance the experience for fans, athletes and organisers. We wish Shujaa and the Lionesses success as they defend their titles,” said Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom CEO.

The sponsorship builds on Safaricom’s two-year partnership with the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), valued at more than KES 100 million, through which M-PESA supports Kenya’s national Sevens teams, Shujaa and the Kenya Lionesses. The partnership provides player and official monthly allowances, comprehensive medical insurance, airtime allowances, and financial literacy programmes. “We are grateful to Safaricom for its continued collaboration with KRU and its commitment to supporting the growth of rugby in Kenya. Its investment in connectivity will help fans stay connected and follow the action, while its support for women’s rugby through the M-PESA partnership continues to make a meaningful difference.

We look forward to delivering an exciting Safari 7s and encourage fans to turn up in large numbers to support our teams,” said Harriet Okach, Chairperson, KRU.

Safaricom will also bring its digital and financial services closer to fans throughout the tournament. Through My OneApp, fans will be able to access matchday tickets via the Tikohub MiniApp, as well as streaming bundles to follow the action. Visitors will also be able to use M-PESA GlobalPay as a convenient payment option during the tournament.

The 28th edition of Safari 7s will feature 18 teams competing across the men’s and women’s categories, with defending champions Kenya Shujaa and Kenya Lionesses returning to defend their titles. The men’s competition will feature Kenya Shujaa, Kenya Morans and a mix of international and invitational sides, while the women’s competition will feature Kenya Lionesses, Kenya Cubs, Shibli and teams from Uganda, Tunisia and Spain.

Critical Care Nurses Urge Government to Equip Intensive Care Units, Review Job Cadres

By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

Critical care nurses in Kenya have challenged the government to ensure critical care units across the country are adequately equipped with the necessary and sophisticated equipment to enable them discharge their mandate effectively.
Chairperson Society of Critical Care Nurses Conelia Ouma addressing press in Embu town. MWINGI TIMES |Brian Musyoka

The nurses say the rapid expansion of critical care units has not been matched with adequate resources, putting pressure on healthcare workers and potentially compromising the quality of care offered to critically ill patients.

Speaking during a two-day conference in Embu County to launch the Society of Critical Care Nurses, the chairperson of the society, Conelia Ouma, said there was an urgent need for the government to invest more resources in critical care services.

Ouma said many critical care units across the country are still operating without adequate specialised equipment required to manage patients with serious and life-threatening conditions.

She noted that critical care nurses require sophisticated equipment and appropriate working environments to effectively monitor, manage and provide specialised care to vulnerable patients.

"We call upon the government to recognize the specialization of critical care nurses for the specialization that it is," Ouma said.

She said the government should also review the existing Human Resource terms for critical care nurses and establish the correct job cadre that reflects their specialised training, skills and responsibilities.

According to the nurses, recognising critical care nursing as a specialised cadre would help address challenges relating to deployment, career progression, remuneration and professional development.

The Society of Critical Care Nurses, which represents specialised critical care nurses in Kenya, is also calling for the development of a clear structure that supports nurses working in critical care settings.

Ouma said increased resources should be directed towards critical care services, including equipment, staffing and other essential facilities required to support specialised nursing care.

The nurses further called for continuous capacity building to enable critical care nurses to keep pace with emerging technologies, procedures and developments in the management of critically ill patients.

They said strengthening the capacity of critical care nurses was particularly important as hospitals continue to establish and expand intensive and other specialised critical care units across the country.

The society urged the government and other stakeholders to work together in addressing the challenges facing critical care nurses, saying adequate investment in the sector would strengthen the country's ability to care for critically ill and vulnerable patients.

Some parts of the county to get rains

By JOHN MUSEMBI 

All areas in Kitui County will receive rainfall this week.This is because rains have been forecast to take place throughout the day.
Rainfall distribution outlook for Kitui County from October 6 to October 12. |Kenya Meteorological Services Authority

"Morning rains followed by afternoon  and night showers are likely to occur in some parts of Kitui county", said Dr Daniel Mbithi, the County Director of Meteorological Services.

Other forecasts remain largely unchanged compared to past forecasts.  They include strong winds likely to blow from southern side to the south east  at a speed of 25knots. 

The maximum temperature readings for this week are forecast to oscillate between 25°C to 35°C while the minimum temperatures are expected to vary from 15°C to 22°C.

Safaricom Champions Youth and Creativity Through Support for the Fisherman Experience

By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT 

The Fisherman Experience in Kisumu brought together three days of creativity, learning and entertainment, with engagements for young creatives on Wednesday and Thursday leading into the main concert at Mamboleo Stadium on Saturday.
Iddia Achieng,  the talented Afro-fusion musician, delivers an electrifying performance at the first edition of 'The Fisherman's Experience '. The unforgettable event,  held at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu,  showcased the very best of Kenya's diverse musical landscape. |COURTESY

On Wednesday, artists and industry practitioners took part in masterclasses focused on the business of creativity. The sessions covered financial literacy, managing irregular income, tax, investment, brand building, digital music and monetising creative work. 

Creatives also received guidance on accessing credit and funding to grow their businesses and projects. The focus shifted to civic engagement and rights advocacy on Thursday, with discussions on constitutional rights, freedom of expression, copyright, fair contracts and youth participation in governance. 

Voter education sessions further encouraged young people to connect their creative influence with civic participation.
“We believe in the power of young people and the creative industry to bring Kenyans together. Our support goes beyond performance because we recognise the talent, skills and people behind every creative experience. Through the platforms and opportunities we create, we support young creatives to develop their skills, express themselves and turn their passion into meaningful opportunities, said Zizwe Awuor, Director, Brand, Marketing and Insights Safaricom PLC.

The two days showcased the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit within Kenya’s creative ecosystem, bringing together young people across different creative disciplines and equipping them with practical skills to build sustainable careers.

The creative engagements set the tone for Saturday’s concert, where the focus shifted from learning and capacity building to music, culture and celebration. Held at Mamboleo Stadium, the concert brought together artists, fans and the wider Kisumu community in a showcase of Kenyan talent and youth culture.

The event also highlighted the role of M-PESA in supporting businesses around live entertainment.Through Pochi la Biashara and M-PESA tills, traders and other businesses at the venue could conveniently receive payments for goods and services, allowing fans to transact as they enjoyed the performances.

At the heart of the concert was a celebration of Kenyan music and the artists shaping the country’s cultural landscape. The performances gave artists an opportunity to connect directly with their audiences while giving fans a space to enjoy local talent and celebrate their culture.
“The experience was exciting because it brought people together and gave us a chance to enjoy Kenyan music and our own artists. It was good to see so much energy from the young people and to be part of an event that celebrated our culture,” said Collins Ochieng.

The Fishermen Experience formed part of Safaricom’s broader commitment to supporting Kenya’s creative economy. The same commitment is reflected in the Safaricom Hook Music Hip Hop regional auditions, which have traversed Kakamega, Embu and Kisumu, giving rising rappers, singers, dancers, actors, MCs and songwriters opportunities to sharpen their craft and gain exposure.

From creative business skills and civic awareness to performance and audience engagement, the Kisumu experience highlighted how young Kenyans are using creativity to build careers, shape culture and contribute to their communities.

MAFA Academy and MCF Starlets Crowned New Safaricom Chapa Dimba Eastern Region Champions

By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT 

Summary 

*Each team took home KSh. 250,000 alongside individual prizes, including smartphones, and secured a spot in the National Finals.

MAFA Academy from Isiolo County celebrates after being crowned the Season Five Safaricom Chapa Dimba Eastern Region champions in the boys’ category at Moi Stadium in Embu on October 4, 2026. |COURTESY

MAFA Academy from Isiolo County and MCF Starlets from Machakos County have been crowned the new Safaricom Chapa Dimba Eastern Region champions after dominant performances in the boys’ and girls’ finals held at Moi Stadium in Embu town.

MCF Starlets from Machakos County celebrate after being crowned the Season Five Safaricom Chapa Dimba Eastern Region champions in the girls’ category at Moi Stadium in Embu County on October 4, 2026.|COURTESY

MAFA Academy claimed their maiden regional title in a spectacular fashion, after overpowering Mikinduri Rock-Star FC 8-0 in a one-sided boys’ final.

Zakar Mohamed opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the seventh minute after Linus Mwirigi was penalised for bringing down Hussein Edin inside the box. Edin doubled MAFA’s advantage in the 18th minute before Abduba Daud added a third two minutes before the break to give the Isiolo side a 3-0 lead at half-time.

MAFA picked up from where they left off in the second half, with Abdizak Ali finding the back of the net in the 56th minute before Mohamed grabbed his second goal of the match in the 68th minute. Wako Dabaso then joined the scoring spree, netting twice in the 71st and 81st minutes to stretch MAFA’s lead to 7-0. Mohamed completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute, capping a superb individual performance and sealing a commanding 8-0 victory for the Isiolo outfit.

Mikinduri Rock-Star FC came close to finding a consolation goal in the 55th minute, but their effort came back off the crossbar as MAFA comfortably saw out the contest.

“This is a big milestone in our football journey as an academy. We have been preparing for this tournament for two years, and today we are very proud of what the boys have achieved. They played good football and made sure we maintained possession as per our game plan. 

Personally, Chapa Dimba took me to Spain, and now, coming back as a coach and winning the regional title is something I am very happy about. The journey is not yet over. Our focus now immediately shifts to the National Finals,” said Ibrahim Abdisalan, Head Coach, MAFA Academy.

In the girls’ final, MCF Starlets from Machakos denied hosts Manyatta Royal Queens Academy home advantage, overcoming the Embu side 3-1 to lift the regional crown.

MCF Starlets took the lead in the 17th minute before doubling their advantage in the 62nd minute. Royal Queens responded three minutes later, with Justa Mwende pulling one back in the 65th minute to give the hosts hope of a comeback.

However, MCF Starlets remained composed and continued to threaten on the counter. They sealed the victory in the 90th minute when Jacinta Nzuna found the back of the net for a third time, extinguishing Royal Queens’ hopes of a late fightback and securing the Machakos side the Eastern Region title.

“Nothing makes us happier than winning the Chapa Dimba Regional Trophy. It has been our dream, and we are proud to be the first team to take the regional trophy to Machakos. We came well prepared, although it was not an easy game because we were playing the hosts and they had tremendous support from their fans,” said Abednego Matata, Head Coach, MCF Starlets 

“We thank Safaricom for giving these young girls a platform to showcase their talent. They are very happy and highly motivated. At the Nationals, we know we will not only be representing Machakos but the entire Eastern Region. We are determined to ensure the Season Five national trophy comes to Eastern.” Added Matata. 

In addition to securing a place in the National Finals, both MAFA Academy and MCF Starlets took home KSh. 250,000 each, alongside individual prizes including smartphones and airtime.

The runners-up, Mikinduri Rock-Star FC and Manyatta Royal Queens Academy, received KSh. 150,000 each.

The Best Goalkeeper awards went to Redemptah Mutanu of MCF Starlets and Abdullahi Muhammed of MAFA Academy, while the Top Scorer awards were claimed by Justa Mwende of Royal Queens and Zakar Mohammed of MAFA Academy.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards went to Cecilia Wanjiku of MCF Starlets and Hussein Edin of MAFA Academy. Each MVP received KSh. 30,000, in addition to a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under Safaricom’s Citizens of the Future Programme.

MAFA Academy and MCF Starlets now join Awendo Football Academy and Plateau Queens of the Nyanza Region, St. Joseph Starlets and LYSA from the Central Region, and Vihiga Cranes and Lugari Progressive from the Western Region, who have already secured their places in the National Finals.

The Eastern Region finals were preceded by an exhibition match between Safaricom staff and Embu-based journalists, with the Safaricom team securing a 3-0 victory.

With the Eastern Region finals now concluded, Safaricom Chapa Dimba heads to the Nairobi Region as the nationwide youth football tournament continues its search for the country’s next generation of football stars.

Safaricom Chapa Dimba is a nationwide tournament targeting young people aged 14 to 17 years, providing them with a platform to showcase their talent, compete at the highest level and pursue opportunities both on and off the pitch.

Editor's Note: Story compiled from a press release sent to newsrooms 

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