Kenya Walking Football

THE SILVER ECONOMY: economic activity created by the needs and contributions of an aging population.

Globally, the world is gearing towards International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) 2026 edition. The theme for this year’s commemoration will be; “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives.”

Systems: Conversations around older persons are now broader than the traditional health issues. We are now talking about;

1) Legal affairs (e.g. succession planning)
2) Financial health (Asset Management)
3) Insurance products aligned to elderly citizens
4) Spiritual alignment

Sports remain the “glue” that drives community conversations and Walking Football, a low impact, non-contact sport targeting +50 years old (both gender). At Kenya Walking Football Federation (KWFF) we bring together clubs/teams of older persons for an opportunity to exercise, mitigate non-communicable diseases AND offer platform through which corporates, companies, government can engage its elderly citizens in a relaxed environment – soccer field.

SILVER ECONOMY:

This refers to the part of the economy focused on the needs, products, and services for older adults. It recognizes that as populations age, older people remain active consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and contributors to society.

Examples of sectors in the silver economy include:

* Healthcare: Hospitals, home healthcare, telemedicine, and medical devices.
* Financial services: Retirement planning, pensions, and insurance.
* Housing: Age-friendly homes, assisted living, and senior communities.
* Technology: Wearable health devices, smart home systems, and apps designed for seniors.
* Leisure and tourism: Travel packages, wellness programs, and recreational activities for older adults.
* Transportation: Accessible public transport and mobility services.

Why is the silver economy important?

* Growing elderly population: Many countries have increasing life expectancy and lower birth rates, leading to a larger older population.
* Economic opportunity: Older adults have significant purchasing power and create demand for specialized products and services.
* Job creation: It generates employment in healthcare, caregiving, technology, and other industries.
* Improved quality of life: It encourages innovations that help older adults live healthier, more independent lives.

By 2030, people aged 50 and older are projected to make up 25% of the global population, with those aged 60 and older alone accounting for about 16.5% (or 1.4 billion people) of the total world population. Thank you, Nation Media Group, for the full-page interview on WALKING FOOTBALL. The feedback has been amazing and overwhelming with the general appreciation that we are ALL ageing.

The bigger question remains? Shall we age with dignity? Shall we enjoy quality of life in our sunset?

Join a walking football club today and be part of the wellness (physical, social, mental, financial) conversations!

Kiarie Mwangi
President: Kenya Walking Football Federation
Website: www.kwff.co.ke.

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY COHESION THROUGH WALKING SESSIONS:

BURU BURU PHASE 2 RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (B2RWA)

Walking is a simple, free exercise that improves physical and mental health. Regular walks can strengthen the heart, burn calories, lower blood sugar, ease joint pain, boost immunity, elevate mood, and support better sleep.

Buru Buru phase 2 residents association (B2RWA) is a community made of 29-courts loosely named “east-side” and “west-side” divided by a road that cuts through the estate. As part of strengthening relations amongst residents, B2RWA came up with the “walk and talk” initiative – a weekly 45mins walk that would bring cross-generational residents together with key objectives being;

• Regular physical exercises amongst residents who may not have opportunities for gym or have busy weekly schedules.
• Encouraging social networking by encouraging residents “walking whilst talking” to each other.
• Mitigating non-communicable diseases – e.g. Diabetes, Dementia, Hypertension, et al

The membership of the “walk and talk” sessions is organically growing and cutting across age, gender and social status. At Kenya Walking Football Federation (KWFF) we are encouraged by the uptake of regular walking as a step towards eventually forming walking clubs and walking football clubs.

At personal level, am happy to be part of the “walk and talk” initiative on many fronts. As a member of the B2RWA welfare committee, as a resident and most importantly – as president of Kenya Walking Football Federation – whose vision is: “Towards a Healthy Population”

To the community around – with over 10 commercial banks, fuel stations, supermarkets and many small and mid-level businesses; our “walk and talk” needs to be part of your route to market strategy! Product / Service visibility and connecting to the community.

To former residents, well-wishers and stakeholders – you now have a platform of community engagement. Purchase a branded reflector jacket for a start.

We would like to hear from you! Yes, you, on how we can develop this initiative further – drop on us an e-mail on: [email protected].

We are “Buruklyn” and Buru Buru is our business.

Kiarie Mwangi
President: Kenya Walking Football Federation
Website: www.kwff.co.ke.

DEMENTIA AWARENESS THROUGH WALKING FOOTBALL. WE LEARNT. WE WALKED. WE NOW KNOW.

Thank you!

For Our partner – Jubilee Insurance Company of Kenya for being key cog at planning the Dementia awareness session by providing experts to engage the community. The Q&A session was engaging and informative. We shall continue to walk together to other walking football clubs across the country. Migori, Makueni, Kajiado and Kiambu – are you ready?!

Thank you!

To all those who turned up for the Dementia Awareness session. We are all winners by participating in both the walking football team (er, blue team won 3-2) AND actively taking part in the session. We are better informed now.

Thank you!

To the Deaf Community for being the most enthusiastic participants. Yes! At Kenya Walking Football Federation, we dare say we are the first to use sports as a platform for outreach to the hard-of-hearing persons. We are intentional in engaging this community on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD’s).

Bonus thank you for every weekend 10-mins sign language session before football session. It promotes sports inclusivity and social networking.

Agenda for next Dementia awareness session?

(a) Care-givers: Equipping care-givers with support systems and structures. Appreciating and recognizing they are first responders in Dementia Management

(b) Early on-set of Dementia: yes, its no longer a +70-year-old conversation. Its affecting persons in their 40’s and 50’s. Wellness (social, physical, mental) is the bigger conversation here.

At Kenya Walking Football Federation (KWFF) our vision remains: Towards a healthy ageing population.

Do you want to learn more about walking football? Would you wish to register a team within your community?

Drop us an e-mail: [email protected].

Kiarie Mwangi
President: Kenya Walking Football Federation
Website: www.kwff.co.ke.

DEMENTIA AWARENESS WALKING FOOTBALL SESSION – JULY 2026

Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia symptoms trigger a decline in thinking skills, also known as cognitive abilities and also affect behavior, feelings and relationships.

Studies suggest exercise as an effective way to reduce cognitive decline in later life. Benefits of physical exercises include;

 Helping memory and thinking skills.
 Having clear memories of certain events.
 Lowering risk of developing the condition at all.
 Reducing anxiety and depression.

At Kenya Walking Football Federation (KWFF) our attention is drawn to early-onset of Dementia in people in their 40’s and 50’s. These cases often manifest first through (a) Changes in behaviour and personality (b) difficulties with executive function (planning, organizing and decision -making and (c) language and speech issues.

Walking Football being a low-impact and non-contact sport offers a platform for older persons to network socially whilst having regular physical exercises. It is within such environment that
Dementia conversations take place. KWFF is big on sports inclusivity – with over 23 deaf community members currently actively participating in walking football. This under-served constituency lacks information on Non-Communicable Diseases largely due to language barriers. They will be there too!

Thank you, Jubilee Insurance Company of Kenya, for partnering with KWFF by bringing on-board experts to engage community on raising awareness on Dementia, engaging care-givers – who are most often nuclear family members and who also require emotional support, and demystifying stigma associated with Dementia.

Dementia Signs can be easily misdiagnosed as stress, depression or midlife changes – and thus the need to have this session!!

Kiarie Mwangi
President: Kenya Walking Football Federation
E-mail: [email protected].

TO ALL FATHERS ON FATHER’S DAY: LETS KEEP WALKING & PLAYING WALKING FOOTBALL

Being a dad demands your best energy every day. You have to take care of yourself first before taking care of your family, your business and the community at large. Walking and Walking Football are two of the easiest, most effective ways for fathers to protect their long-term health. They offer powerful, low-impact ways to remain fit and healthy.

Our vision at Kenya Walking Football is: “Towards a healthy ageing population”

Our Mission is: “Promoting Social networking amongst elderly citizenry through physical exercises”

Walking offers the foundational fitness you need. Walking football brings back the competitive spirit in sports, modified for longevity.

To ALL our players, administrators and stakeholders at Kenya Walking Football Federation – Happy Father’s Day!!

Drop us an e-mail: [email protected]. We Start the Walking and Walking Football journey, together!

You don't need to be fit to start; you just need to start to get fit.

Kiarie Mwangi
President: Kenya Walking Football Federation
Secretary General: CONIFA KENYA LOC (Ni Wakati Sports Africa)

E-mail: [email protected].

KENYA GRANNIES (masters) FOOTBALL FEDERATION – KGFF & KENYA WALKING FOOTBALL FEDERATION (KWFF) – COLLABORATING TO ENGAGE ELDERLY WOMEN IN SPORTS.

It is often said “collaboration happens at the top. Competition happens at the bottom”. This is never truer and moreso in our sports eco-system where team work, team synergy and fan experience are at the center of our engagements.

Formed last year (2025), KGFF continues to inspires elderly women in the community driving SGBV conversations, economic empowerment and mental health awareness campaigns - all through football. Their participation in the 2nd edition of Grannies International Football Tournament (GIFT) in March 2025 was roundly appreciated by all Kenyans. Needless, Nairobi is set to host the 3rd edition of GIFT next year (2027). KGFF maintains strong grassroot presence in the space of traditional football.

Kenya Walking Football Federation (KWFF) represents a slower version of traditional football. A low-impact and non-contact sport which attracts both gender, aged +50 years and above. KWFF is a 6 vs 6 game played for 30 minutes and with slightly relaxed rules that includes inter-alia; rolling substitutions, no off-side rules, no above-the-waist ball, no throw-balls et al.

THE CONVERGENCE

Whether traditional football or walking football - both KGFF and KWFF serve the same constituency – elderly citizenry. It is not hard to find same persons participating in both sessions. Do we mind? No! indeed the more regular physical exercises in older persons the greater the mitigation against non-communicable diseases (NCD’s).

SPORTS EVANGELISM

When the invitation came from Football Legend Musa Otieno – the event organizer – and Nairobi Chairperson of KGFF, Phoebe Nandwa – to grace the occasion, quickly remembered the scriptures in 1st Corinthians 9:24-25 that encourages training with discipline to win a lasting prize. The theme of the Grannies tournament aptly captured our guiding scripture verse at KWFF: Play. Praise. Purpose.

CONIFA JAMBOREE – KENYA EDITION 2026 {August 11th – 16th}

Whilst KWFF will have Deaf Walking Football team driving sports inclusivity, KGFF will have a grannies team appreciating that sports cuts across age, religion and even social status. This is the beauty of CONIFA – bringing together grassroot football experience.

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

Kiarie Mwangi
President – Kenya Walking Football Federation.
Secretary General: CONIFA KENYA {Ni Wakati Sports Africa}

CONIFA “no limits” PLATFORM “walks” TOGETHER WITH KENYA WALKING FOOTBALL: SPORTS INCLUSIVITY FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS.

CONIFA (Confederation of Independent Football Associations) views grassroots sports as the foundation of cultural inclusion, peacebuilding and human connection. By providing a global platform for minorities and displaced people, CONIFA treats grassroots football as a way to celebrate identity, foster community resilience, and give a voice to marginalized groups. CONIFA's "No Limits" platform drives football events for differently-abled players providing platform for recognition and appreciation.

Walking Football is a low impact, non-contact sport that provides a platform for social networking, mitigating non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) whilst engaging the community with a platform for regular physical exercises. At Kenya Walking Football Federation (KWFF) one of our focus areas has been sports inclusivity through engaging differently abled persons;

(a) Deaf Community:

Deaf and hard-of-hearing people participate in sports at all levels, with the Deaflympics providing a major international platform for competition. Deaflympics is the second oldest international multi-sporting event in the world. Since July 2025 the deaf community team has become part of our weekly walking football sessions, playing together and over time we created a 10-minutes sign-language lesson that continues to close the gap between hearing and hard-of-hearing participants. The deaf community faces significant barriers in accessing information about non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and preventive measures, leading to health disparities. These barriers include communication gaps & limited access to healthcare services tailored for sign language users.

(b) Visually Impaired community:

08th December 2025 will remain humbling and memorable to KWFF (and to myself as an individual) as we introduced Walking Football amongst the visually impaired persons. My brother Charles Waitherero - The president of Kenya Sports Association for the visually impaired (KESAVI) explained that blind Football is a Paralympic sport and locally played in Kenya. Through KESAVI people who are blind and visually impaired are empowered to experience quality of life, changing opportunities and social integration through sports. Another global FIRST from KWFF – bringing together visually impaired persons to walking football space as part of sports inclusivity.

CONIFA JAMBOREE KENYA: AUGUST 11th – 16th

For the first time CONIFA comes to KENYA this August and 2nd country to host the event after S.A. in 2022. You cannot afford NOT to be part of the cocktail of grassroot sports that will be HUGE on Sports Inclusivity! Keep it here for more details.

Sports is the “glue” that “fuels” community conversations.

Kiarie Mwangi
President – Kenya Walking Football Federation.
Secretary General: CONIFA KENYA {Ni Wakati Sports Africa}

ADDRESSING SOCIAL ISOLATION AMONGST OLDER PERSONS THROUGH SPORTS (walking football)

Social isolation and loneliness are critical public health issues. They have profound, measurable impacts on mental health, increasing the risk of depression, anxiety, cognitive decline and even suicidal thoughts. lack of social engagement increases dementia risk – which frequently forces an individual into further isolation.

Walking Football, a low-impact and non-contact sport played by older persons (+50 years – both gender) is a platform of combating social isolation through regular physical exercises, encouraging team participation and identity and building healthy relationships amongst elderly citizens.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES – 15th MAY 2026:

This day is observed annually on 15th May and was proclaimed by UN General Assembly in 1993. It promotes awareness of issues relating to families and social & economic processes. At Kenya Walking Football Federation (KWFF) we were humbled to receive an invite from Missionary sisters of the holy family (Sp) – Kenya to introduce Walking Football to the community within Munyu Village – Gatuanyaga Ward, Kiambu County to the over 350 elderly citizens invited for free medical camp as part of day commemorations.

The response was amazing! The elderly folks regaling the audience with their sporting days of youth and nostalgic memories of volleyball, netball, football and athletics participation. Sports is the “glue” that “fuels” conversations within the community never truer.

A conversation that came up was on regular physical exercises as part of preventative health-care. Sports naturally fulfils the basic human need for belonging and trust by creating an environment that fosters psychological safety, teamwork, shared goals and lasting emotional support system.

WALKING FOOTBALL – MUNYU CLUB (c/o Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family - MSHF)

Thanks again Sister Cecily and team for welcoming KWFF. The plan? MSHF to start a walking football team by end of August 2026. Would you wish to support the missionary in getting started? From soccer balls, training bibs, first aid kit, jerseys et al – drop on them an e-mail: [email protected]. It will be a blessing to the community!

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

Kiarie Mwangi
President – Kenya Walking Football Federation
www.kwff.co.ke. [email protected].

MOTHER’S DAY 2026: “walking the walk with WALKING FOOTBALL”

Walking Football is a non-contact and low-impact type of football played by +40-year-old women. A 30-mins game time that promotes regular physical activity, a platform for social networking and mitigating disease associated with ageing e.g. arthritis. Participation promotes independence, combats social isolation, increases confidence, and helps manage menopause symptoms and mental health.

Social Benefits of older women participation in Walking Football include inter-alia;

• Community & Support: Joining teams or clubs provides crucial social opportunities, combatting isolation.
• Sharing Experiences: Teammates often share experiences related to aging thus creating a supportive environment.
• Intergenerational Connection: Many opportunities exist to connect with younger generations through coaching, mentorship et al.

Psychological & Cognitive Benefits

• Improved Mood: Walking football decrease feelings of anxiety and depression.
• Mental Sharpness: Being a low-impact sport, walking football leans on mobility and co-ordination which boosts memory and cognitive function.
• Empowerment: Participation fosters a sense of identity and personal empowerment, challenging age-related stereotypes.

Kenya is probably the ONLY country amongst the over 120 walking football member countries globally that has more women than men in the space of Walking Football, current ratio being men: women at 35%:65%. Contributing factors being more women (especially +60 years and +70 years) are more health conscious than men and women are more likely to build stronger social networks and relations than men. To ALL the amazing women who are part of various Kenya walking football clubs – we salute you!

Do you have a group of women and would wish to register a Walking Football Club? Would you wish to join a club near you? Drop us an e-mail and we shall do the rest.

e-mail: [email protected].

"You don't stop moving because you get old. You get old because you stop moving."