By Our Correspondent
The 2026 Governor Nathif Cup football tournament officially began on Saturday in Dadaab Sub-County, launching a countywide competition that Garissa County officials say is intended to promote youth development, identify sporting talent and strengthen social cohesion across the county.
The tournament is being organised through the Department of Youth, Sports and Culture and will be staged in all sub-counties before progressing through subsequent rounds.
The opening edition in Dadaab has attracted 67 teams, making it one of the largest football competitions held in the sub-county, according to the county government. The participating teams represent Dadaab Ward, Dertu, Labasigale, Abakaile, Ifo 1, Ifo 2, Hagadera and Dagahaley.
County officials said the tournament brings together 35 teams from the host community and 32 teams from the refugee camps, a feature they described as part of broader efforts to promote peaceful coexistence between the two populations.
The county government said the participation of teams from both communities aligns with the National Government’s Shirika Plan and Garissa’s Integrated Socio-Economic Development Programme (GISIDEP), initiatives aimed at promoting social cohesion, inclusion and shared economic opportunities.
“The participation of both host and refugee community teams reflects the County Government’s commitment to advancing peaceful coexistence through sport,” the county government said in the Facebook statement.
The opening ceremony was attended by Dadaab Member of County Assembly and Leader of Majority Mohamed Aboo and Dadaab Sub-County Administrator Mohamed Amin.
During the event, the two leaders urged players to uphold discipline, teamwork, respect and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.
Aboo said the competition extends beyond football by providing opportunities for youth engagement and community interaction.
“The Governor Nathif Cup is more than a football tournament. It is an investment in youth development, talent identification and peacebuilding, creating opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds to interact, build friendships and pursue their sporting ambitions,” Aboo said
The county government said the competition is intended to use sport as a platform to empower young people while encouraging healthy competition and strengthening unity among communities across Garissa County.
