From Dandora to Daystar: Tujiamini Awards Redefine Grassroots Empowerment in Kenya

Across Kenya’s fields, gyms, classrooms, and gaming lounges, untold stories of talent are finally being seen — and supported. Powered by SportPesa, the Tujiamini Initiative is setting a new benchmark for grassroots empowerment, awarding over KSh 30 million in goods and services to dreamers, doers, and local heroes.

From bronze awards recognizing emerging talent, to silver awards supporting professionals on the rise, and now the newly launched Gold Community Award — Tujiamini is building an ecosystem where potential meets opportunity.

Bronze award: Fueling the first step forward

Every month, 50 applicants across the country receive KSh 10,000 through the Tujiamini Bronze Award, designed to give early-stage athletes and creatives a crucial push.

Among the first to win was Vincent Onyangi, Kenya’s pioneering lacrosse player. As the captain of Kenya’s first men’s national lacrosse team, Vincent represented the country at the U21 World Cup — despite breaking his arm mid-tournament. Now studying Nursing on Kenya’s only lacrosse scholarship at Daystar University, Vincent continues to coach and lead, proving that niche sports and big dreams can thrive with the right support.

“My goal is to take lacrosse further in Kenya and open doors for others,” says Onyangi.

Silver Award: Accelerating talent with KSh 100,000 boost

The Tujiamini Silver Award, awarded to five winners per month, has spotlighted an extraordinary range of talent.

• Elisha Kipchirchir, a 2:06 marathoner training in Kaptagat, used the award to stay focused on his Olympic dream despite limited financial backing.
• Shirley “Tinto” Ndirangu, a rising esports star and certified FKF referee, used her prize to acquire a PlayStation console and train full-time after finishing second at the Afro-Arab Esports League in Saudi Arabia.
• Joshua Wasike, a heavyweight boxer and national team alum, received the Silver Award to push his budding pro career, already marked by three KOs in four fights.
• Kirinyaga Knights Hockey Club, a community-driven team with over 60 active players, used their funding to buy essential equipment and support university-bound athletes.

Each winner is living proof that investment in grassroots talent pays off — not just in trophies, but in real lives changed.

Cheza Dimba: Grassroots football, big-time stakes

Running parallel to the monthly awards is Cheza Dimba, Tujiamini’s flagship grassroots football tournament.

Held across 8 regions, the tournament gives non-league and regional teams a rare shot at visibility — and a chance to win a KSh 250,000 annually, 3-year sponsorship from SportPesa Kenya. The August 2024 edition will take place at Dandora Stadium, with teams like The Planes FC, Mathare North United, and Zimmerman All Stars battling it out for national recognition.

“Cheza Dimba is more than a tournament — it’s a pathway to professional football,” said the leading online gaming firm Willis Ojwang.

Past winners include Eldoret FC, Ikuu Spiders, Rockstars, and Megastars, with the competition growing more competitive each month.

Gold community award: A new era of impact recognition

In a bold move to deepen community engagement, Tujiamini recently introduced the Gold Community Award — a first-of-its-kind honor that celebrates organizations or leaders driving real, lasting change.

Whether it’s building youth programs, running adaptive sports for PWDs, or launching creative hubs in rural areas — the Gold Award recognizes high-impact, community-driven work.

“This award goes beyond individual talent,” says Tujiamini’s project manager. “It’s about scale, sustainability, and social transformation.”

How to apply and be part of Tujiamini

Whether you’re an athlete, artist, gamer, coach, or grassroots leader — Tujiamini has a place for your story.
Applications are open year-round, and there’s no cost to apply.

To enter:

1. Submit a short proposal (what you do, and who benefits)
2. Include a basic budget (what you need help with)
3. Upload a 90-second video (no editing needed — speak from the heart)

Apply now at: www.tujiamini.co.ke/apply

A national platform for local dreams

From lacrosse players in Athi River to footballers in Dandora, heavyweight boxers in Kakamega to referees in Nairobi — Tujiamini is showing Kenya what happens when talent meets belief.

With Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Cheza Dimba all working in tandem, Tujiamini is more than an award program — it’s a national platform for Kenya’s next generation of champions.