Lifting Korogocho Out Of Pins And Needles That Is Crime And Drugs Abuse

There are as many days as there are in a year with a thing or two, good or ill to remember about them. However, some days are richly remembered by many people and for so long than others. Your school, your church or even country may more often than not have such a hugely important day on its calendar.
Well, at St. Johns Catholic Church, the answer to Vatican’s St Peters Square here in Korogocho, December 14th is a day worth everything.
You should have been there on Sunday December 14th and all your queries of whether something of value can come from the slum would have been adequately answered.
Korogocho misses not in the bigger picture whenever a debate about slums and slum dwellers is ignited, either locally or internationally. And although it can not rival all the other Nairobi slums such as Kibera as far as social organization is concerned, it’s not an under dog either.
Like Kibera, Korogocho too has a radio station, KOCH FM 99.9. It should be recorded somewhere that Korogocho was the first of all the Nairobi slums to have a radio station. But that is a story for another day.
At St Johns Catholic Church, as far as the eye can see to the east, stands the infamous Dandora dumping site. From it rises huge chunks of dark poisonous smoke into the sky. A few meters away, young boys with dirty sacs on their backs hop from one heap of wastes to another, searching for food. As they advance in their search, hundreds of scavenger birds guarding the sky over the dumping site, come down in patterns to pick the remains of food. It is an exercise worth watching.
The existence of the dumping site in this locality has over the years earned successive governments in Kenya no lesser criticism and protest from angry residents of Korogocho and neighboring Dandora – the two regions that borders the dumping site, demanding the removal of the dumping site from the area terming it detrimental to their lives.
This day’s platform was however not built on protests or any sort of mass action against the government, but on the timeless creed that sums up the spirits of the people: Pamoja tunaweza (together we can). The creed that led to the birth of St Johns Sport Society (SSS) now marks its fourth anniversary.
Every possible space in the church compound was virtually taken over by hundreds of ‘wananchi drawn from all corners of the city who came to witness the fourth rebirth of St Johns Sport Society (SSS). Tall posts standing strategically around the compound kept the society’s yellow and green coloured flags aloft continuously dancing to the tune of the blowing wind.
Whenever two or three people come together, God is in their midst, so says the holy book. And to recognize God’s presence, the day’s activities began with a mass celebrated by Fr. John Webootsa of St Johns Catholic church.
As expected after the mass, a rich menu of sports entertainment from the St Johns Sport Society was finally rolled out. This meant that if you were not in the hall watching boxing, taekwondo or weightlifting, you were certainly out in the field watching football, volleyball, basketball or netball. Obviously you had something to keep you cheering.
A brainchild of Fr Daniel Moschetti, St Johns sports Society was born on Dec 14th 2004 after nearly two years in the making. As a charitable, non political and a not-for-profit organization, SSS is established on the following pillars.
-To create opportunities for physical, personal and community development for the youth in Korogocho and neighboring areas.
- help human maturity and community development.
- Organize and support activities and community service projects by members.
- Promote and support gender equality.
When the church thought of a society and worked to have one in place, it was not merely playing to the gallery, but had foreseen a brighter future. So far, through the society, once hopeless and drug addict youths in Korogocho have modeled themselves into excellent sports personalities. Inspiring more youth to join the society.
Need it be said that the society has held together once warring communities in the slums into a peaceful co-existence? Perhaps yes, “sport is not doubt one of the effect ways to melt hatred out of people’s hearts.” Says Japheth Oluoch, one of the events organizers at St John Catholic church.