Ruth Mueni: From CFK Queen to a Leader in Changing the Game for Girls in Kibera
Being selected for CFK Queens sparked a lifelong commitment to the game, to girls’ soccer, and to her community.
Since establishing Kibera’s first all-girls soccer league in 2002, we have pioneered soccer initiatives to address ethnic conflict, promote community cooperation and development, and serve as a gateway to connect youth to health services. We leverage the power of sports and play to advocate for the health and wellness of youth on and off the pitch, equipping young people with information, services, and mentorship to live healthier lives.
Harnessing the power of sports and play to advocate for the health and wellness of young people.
We use soccer as an entry point to informal settlement communities, building trust.
Training coaches as mentors to improve the economic, educational, and health outcomes of youth.
Our signature youth soccer tournaments build community trust, develop important leadership skills, empower youth, and increase access to health and education services. The only tournaments in slums hosted at such a scale across Kenya, we engage teams from 16 informal settlements across 5 counties.
We conduct extensive leadership and mentorship trainings with community coaches in our Values Based Sports methodology, ensuring that coaches are equipped with the skills to engage students in conversations that encourage participation in school and discourage drug use, crime, and violence.
Our national-level women and men’s teams are proving the talent of slum youth to the world, with the Kibera Soccer Women FC the only informal settlement team in Kenya’s Premiere League and the Kibera Soccer FC leading in the 3rd Division. Using their national platform, the 50 players aged 18 -30 act as CFK Africa social change champions on issues related to girls empowerment, education advocacy, and health-seeking behaviors.
youth play in our soccer tournaments annually.
coaches trained each year in VBS methodology.
players on the Kibera FCs are social change champions.
Being selected for CFK Queens sparked a lifelong commitment to the game, to girls’ soccer, and to her community.
A fearless goalkeeper with Kibera Soccer Women FC, Vivian embodies how football drives social impact, builds confidence, and unites communities.
“Coaching is more than drills. It is about giving young people direction, alternatives, and belief in their own potential.”