Sword fighting offers hope for youth in Nairobi’s poorest areas

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Fencing offers a ray of hope to young people living in Nairobi’s poorest neighborhoods. This is not just a hobby for them: it’s a force for good in their lives. Fencing has helped carve a path away from crime, drugs, and other social pressures.

“I used to be a gangster,” says Mburu Wanyoike, who is now a coach for Kenya’s National Fencing team. “I was in crime, and crime makes you feel isolated. It actually puts you in a place where you are isolated, making you feel depressed, having stress. And I chose fencing as a way for me to escape out of the hood and escape that lifestyle.”

His journey from delinquency to fencing coach and senior athlete in Kenya’s national team has been transformative. However, challenges persist, particularly regarding the affordability of fencing equipment.

“Sometimes it is tough when it comes to competing with well-equipped international countries that are well organized, so what we do is just to move on with enthusiasm and obsession. The fact that we don’t have the equipment, the limited ones we have, we use them. We don’t complain that we do not have equipment,” says Wanyoike.

Tsavora Fencing Mtaani, an initiative under Tsavora Fencing, offers mentorship and training in fencing to the youth of these impoverished neighborhoods, shielding them from the dangers of their environment.

With 45 members, most of whom are students, the team serves as a beacon of hope in the community. Participants are required to become disciplined and put on integrity.

Steve Okalo, Secretary General of the Kenya Fencing Federation, acknowledges the uphill battle the sport faces in gaining popularity but remains optimistic about its future.

“Fencing is not a popular sport like football or athletics, but we are trying our best to see how it is going because when we started, I started with about four people and now I’m seeing that I have good fencers,” Okalo remarks.

As Tsavora Fencing continues to thrive, fueled by the determination of its members and the support of the community, it stands as a testament to the transformative power of sport in even the most challenging environments.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Script

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[Fencers walking on the streets of Huruma]

[Fencers preparing for a practice session]

[Fencers sparring in street]

[People watching]

Mburu Wanyoike (interview): “I used to be a gangster. I was in crime and crime makes you feel isolated. It actually puts you in a place where you are isolated, making you feel depressed, having stress and I chose fencing as a way for me to escape out of the hood and escape that lifestyle.”

[Fencers sparring]

[Fencers sparring]

Mburu Wanyoike (interview): “When it comes to the family, during that time they did not receive it well since they were telling me ‘this sport doesn’t pay, why are you sticking in the sport? Try and get something that pays you.’ And I was like, no. This is something that I want to do since I know where I want to go.”

[Building to street where fencers are standing]

[Fencers sparring]

Mburu Wanyoike (interview): “Sometimes it is tough when it comes to competing with well-equipped international countries that are well organized, so what we do is just move on with enthusiasm and obsession. The fact that we don’t have the equipment, the limited ones we have, we use them. We don’t complain that we do not have equipment, we just use what we got and put in the obsession and the enthusiasm and the passion combined, that’s what we do, we fence.”

[Fencers posing for camera]

Jemimah Njeri (interview): “Initially I had bad companies at home but now that I am in fencing, it has kept me busy and now it is a better option for me because I feel happy doing it.”

[Fencers during practice session]

Allen Grace (interview): “I cannot imagine myself without this sport because it has kept me very busy. In my area, many girls have become teenage mothers and that is not a wonderful life.”

[Fencers during practice session]

[Stephen Okalo, secretary general, Kenya Fencing Federation, talking to fencers]

Stephen Okalo (interview): “Fencing is not a popular sport like football or athletics, but we are trying our best to see how it is going because when we started, I started with about four people and now I’m seeing that I have good fencers, I am having about 45 and schools now have started taking it so I know that by our strategic plan, in five years, I know fencing will have reached somewhere.”

[Fencers sparring]

This script was provided by The Associated Press.

The related lesson for this video will be published next Wednesday.