Police officers outclassed boda boda riders in Malindi on Saturday, winning 8–2 in a community football match designed to highlight the rising cases of teenage pregnancies and drug abuse in Kilifi County.
The match, held at the Alaskan Grounds, brought together the Malindi Police Football Club and the Malindi Umbrella of Motorcycle Riders (Maumori). The event was part of an awareness campaign supported by Mogo, a leading asset financing company in East Africa.
The police team showed superiority early on, with Omar Kihara scoring four goals, Michael Joseph striking twice, and Kelvin Amani and Andrew Karisa each netting once.
Maumori’s consolation came from Baraka Kahindi, who scored two goals in the 35th and 67th minutes.
Mogo Kenya Product Marketing Manager Jonathan Bogonko said the initiative demonstrates how sports can help address social challenges while fostering better relations between law enforcement and the community.
“Sports offer a powerful platform for connection. Our partnership with Maumori promotes positive values, supports the girl child, and encourages cooperation between the police and the community,” said Bogonko.
Since 2023, Mogo has partnered with Maumori to champion road safety, combat drug abuse and promote education for girls. The group’s 1,500 members also engage in community outreach, including donating sanitary pads to schoolgirls and encouraging boys to protect their sisters.
Mogo also supports the Maumori football team, currently competing in the FKF Malindi Subcounty League, by providing balls, nets, and jerseys. During the event, the company offered free servicing for motorcycles and tuk-tuks.
Kilifi remains one of the counties most affected by teenage pregnancies, with the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey showing that 15 percent of girls aged 15–19 have been pregnant. UNFPA has also raised concerns about the role of boda boda operators in the rising number of cases in rural areas.
Government data further indicates that one in every ten youths aged 15–24 is using at least one drug or substance of abuse, with the Coast region among the worst affected.
