Safaricom will stage the Western Regional Finals of its Chapa Dimba Season 5 youth football tournament in Bungoma on August 15 and 16 at Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi, with eight teams set to compete for the regional title and National Finals qualification.

In a statement dated August 13, 2026, the telecoms operator said four boys’ teams and four girls’ teams drawn from Busia, Vihiga, Bungoma and Kakamega counties will take part in the first regional finals of the season. The participating teams are Chakol Queens and Musokoto Secondary School (Busia), Vihiga Cranes and Blue Commandos (Vihiga), Terem FC and Elgon Queens (Bungoma), and Lugari Progressive and Green Buffaloes (Kakamega).

Safaricom said each winning boys’ and girls’ team will receive KES 250,000 and secure a slot at the National Finals. Runners-up in each category will receive KES 150,000, according to the company.

“This weekend, we are all heading to Bungoma for our first Chapa Dimba Regional Final of the season. We have eight teams competing, and we expect a packed weekend of exciting action,” said Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom CEO. “I call on football fans across Western Kenya and beyond to turn up in large numbers, enjoy the action, and cheer on our talented young boys and girls.”

The girls’ semi-finals will open the weekend programme, with hosts Elgon Queens facing Lugari Progressive in the first match. The second girls’ semi-final will pit Blue Commandos against defending champions Chakol Queens, Safaricom said.

Fred Serenge, head coach of Lugari Progressive, said the team is targeting the regional title after falling short last season. “Last season, we lost 2-1 to Brenda Girls in the final, but this year we are determined to win both the regional and national titles,” Serenge said. He added that the tournament will, for the first time, provide Kenyan players an opportunity to participate in the Gothia Cup in Sweden through selection to the Season 5 All-Star team.

The boys’ semi-finals will feature hosts Terem FC against Vihiga Cranes, followed by Musokoto Secondary School versus Green Buffaloes, according to Safaricom.

Francis Muhambe, head coach of Vihiga Cranes, said the team is looking to repeat past success. “Last season, I led Ebwali Boys to the regional championship in the boys’ category, and this year, I am hoping to achieve the same with Vihiga Cranes after winning the Vihiga County title,” Muhambe said.

Beyond prize money for teams, Safaricom said it will issue individual awards: Best Goalkeeper and Top Scorer in both boys’ and girls’ categories will each receive KES 30,000, while the Most Valuable Player (Golden Ball) will also receive KES 30,000 and a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under the Safaricom Citizens of the Future Programme.

The company said the Western Region segment attracted 521 teams across the four counties—340 boys’ teams and 181 girls’ teams—with Kakamega recording the highest participation at 214 teams, followed by Bungoma (160), Busia (79) and Vihiga (68). Nationwide, Safaricom said 3,178 teams registered for Season 5, comprising 2,367 boys’ teams and 811 girls’ teams.

For Kenya’s business landscape, Safaricom’s continued funding of grassroots sports programmes is part of broader corporate spending that supports talent pipelines, community engagement and local event-driven trade, particularly in host towns where match-day footfall can lift small business activity around venues. The tournament also aligns with a growing focus by corporates on youth development initiatives that link to education outcomes through scholarships, which can be positioned as long-term human capital investment.

The Western Regional Finals will culminate in category finals on Sunday, with the winners advancing to represent the region at the National Finals. Safaricom said the Season 5 All-Star team will represent Kenya at the Gothia Cup in Sweden.

Safaricom PLC (NSE: SCOM) has launched Season 5 of its Chapa Dimba youth football tournament in Kisumu, rolling out new pathways that include international competition exposure, tertiary scholarships and expanded technology-enabled scouting for grassroots players.

The company said the fifth season, launched at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu, will feature an All-Star team of 32 players selected from the tournament to represent Kenya at the Gothia Cup in Sweden. Safaricom described the Gothia Cup as the world’s largest youth football tournament and said the move replaces the international bootcamps used in previous editions.

The tournament will also provide tertiary scholarships to 150 outstanding players through the Safaricom Citizens of the Future programme, according to the press release.

Safaricom said it has adjusted the tournament’s eligibility age bracket to 15–18 years from 16–20 years in previous seasons, stating that the change is intended to support earlier talent identification and placement into professional football structures in Kenya and abroad.

“We are intentionally building pathways that combine sports, education, and technology to empower the next generation. Our goal is not just to develop footballers, but to nurture well-rounded young people who can positively transform their communities and the country,” said Peter Ndegwa, Group CEO, Safaricom PLC.

On player assessment, Safaricom said it will expand the use of technology for scouting and performance analysis. After introducing AI-powered GPS vests in the previous season, the company said it will now deploy VeO Cameras and MyScout AI devices beginning at county level. Safaricom said the tools will enable data-driven scouting by tracking metrics such as movement, positioning, intensity and sprint performance, and will support the creation of digital player profiles accessible to clubs and scouts.

“This season, we are taking technology deeper into grassroots football because we believe no talent should go unnoticed. Through data and digital player profiling, we are creating more structured pathways for young players to access opportunities locally and globally,” Ndegwa said.

Safaricom said Season 5 will be held across eight regions and organised in five stages: ward level, county level, inter-county level, regional level and national finals. Registration is open for both boys’ and girls’ teams via the Chapa Dimba website, the company said.

National winners in both boys’ and girls’ categories will each receive KES 1 million, Safaricom said, adding that county and regional prizes and individual awards—including Most Valuable Player, Top Scorer and Best Goalkeeper—will also be issued.

The tournament is run in partnership with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Safaricom said in its notes to editors. The company positions the programme as part of its wider youth empowerment agenda, implemented alongside initiatives including the Safaricom Foundation, M-PESA Foundation and Citizens of the Future programme.

For Kenya’s sports and business ecosystem, the latest changes signal a tighter link between corporate sponsorship, education outcomes and measurable talent pipelines. Expanded scouting tools at county level could also increase the visibility of players outside traditional urban centres, while the Gothia Cup pathway provides a defined international platform for elite youth talent.

Safaricom said Chapa Dimba, launched in 2017, has produced players who have progressed into local and international football, including Benson Omalla, Bryton Otieno, Austine Odongo, Derrick Oketch, Jentrix Shikangwa, Marion Serenge and Mercy Akoth, among others. The company also said some former participants have represented Kenya at international competitions, including the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Next, the tournament will proceed through its ward-to-national structure, with the All-Star selection and scholarship beneficiaries expected to emerge from the season’s scouting and performance assessments, Safaricom said.