Police officers in Malindi on Saturday defeated boda boda riders 8–2 in a friendly football match aimed at raising awareness about teenage pregnancies and drug abuse among young people in Kilifi County.
The match, played at Alaskan Grounds, brought together the Malindi Police Football Club and the Malindi Umbrella of Motorcycle Riders (Maumori) as part of a community sensitisation campaign supported by Mogo, one of East Africa’s leading asset financiers.
The police side dominated the game, with Omar Kihara scoring four goals, Michael Joseph adding two, and both Kelvin Amani and Andrew Karisa contributing a goal each.
Maumori’s Baraka Kahindi scored twice in the 35th and 67th minutes.
Speaking during the event, Mogo Kenya Product Marketing Manager Jonathan Bogonko said the initiative uses sports to strengthen relations between security officers and residents while addressing social challenges affecting youth.
“We believe in building strong community ties through sports. Our partnership with Maumori promotes positive values, supports the girl child, and encourages cooperation between the police and the community,” said Bogonko.
Mogo has partnered with Maumori since 2023 in campaigns promoting road safety, discouraging drug abuse, and supporting girls’ education. The group, which has more than 1,500 members, also donates sanitary pads to schoolgirls and encourages boys to protect their sisters.
As part of its sponsorship, Mogo has equipped the Maumori football team, currently playing in the FKF Malindi Subcounty League, with balls, nets, and jerseys to boost their performance in league fixtures. The company and its partners also offered free motorcycle and tuk-tuk servicing during the event.
Kilifi County remains among the regions most affected by teenage pregnancies, with the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) showing that 15 percent of girls aged 15–19 have been pregnant. UNFPA reports have also linked boda boda operators to rising cases, especially in rural areas.
Government data from the Ministry of Health (2022–2025) further indicates that one in every 10 youths aged 15–24 uses at least one drug or substance of abuse, with the Coast region among the hardest hit.