The 5th edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba was officially launched on Friday afternoon at Jomo Kenyatta Grounds in Kisumu, ushering in a new chapter for one of Kenya’s biggest grassroots football competitions.

The colourful launch ceremony brought together top football and county leadership, including Hussein Mohammed, members of the FKF National Executive Committee (NEC), Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa, and Kisumu County Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili. Youth football teams, fans, and local football stakeholders also turned up in large numbers as Kisumu once again positioned itself at the centre of grassroots football development.

While the day largely focused on the return of Chapa Dimba with a revamped format and bigger opportunities for young players, there were also visible signs of the ongoing divisions within the FKF leadership.

Despite both FKF factions attending the launch, clear tension could be observed throughout the event. NEC members linked to the recent ‘ouster’ of Hussein Mohammed kept their distance during proceedings. During speeches held on the pitch, the opposing faction did not join fellow dignitaries on the field and instead remained seated on the main dais. Even during arrival and introductions, there were noticeable moments of cold interaction, including the absence of handshakes between key officials.

The divide became more apparent during the ceremonial exhibition penalties, where no NEC member from the opposing faction participated. The incident further highlighted the strained relationship within the federation following the recent leadership wrangles that drew the attention of both FIFA and CAF.

Hussein Mohammed had earlier received temporary relief after the Sports Disputes Tribunal suspended the NEC decision seeking to remove him from office, while FIFA and CAF demanded clarification and evidence surrounding the ouster.

Ironically, some members from the opposing camp had previously criticized the Chapa Dimba partnership, claiming FKF as a body had not been fully engaged and that only the federation president had been involved in discussions. However, they softened the stance and publicly expressed support for the tournament.

Still, the main focus remained the growth of youth football.

Speaking during the launch, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa reiterated the company’s commitment to transforming lives through sports and empowering young people beyond football.

“Safaricom goes beyond commercial objectives. It has always been about transforming lives. We are the biggest supporter of passion points,” said Ndegwa.

He announced that the 5th edition would introduce educational support for talented youth players through scholarships.

“We will be giving away 105 scholarships as part of Chapa Dimba Season Five that will include TVETs and university opportunities that will enable youths to continue with their studies.”

Ndegwa also confirmed major changes to the international exposure program. Unlike previous editions where selected players attended training camps abroad, this season’s winners will participate in an actual international youth competition in Sweden.

“Instead of taking the winners to a camp, we will take them to play in a tournament in Sweden so that they can have the experience of playing in a different environment. We have also lowered the age limit so that we discover talent early,” he added.

The revamped 5th edition introduces digital registration, lower age categories(15 to 18), and opportunities for both teams and individual players to register all aimed at improving competitiveness and early talent identification.

FKF President Hussein Mohammed welcomed the continued partnership with Safaricom and linked grassroots development to Kenya’s broader football ambitions ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host.

“We are preparing for AFCON next year and as we prepare for that big competition, we also need to start preparing for World Cup qualifiers and participating like every other big football nation,” he said.

The FKF boss expressed confidence that Chapa Dimba could eventually produce players capable of representing Kenya on football’s biggest stage.

“Come 2030, I’m sure one of these players we will pick from Safaricom Chapa Dimba will be playing at the World Cup. I am very confident that we will be able to achieve that.”