22/06/2026
For many young men, the hardest words to say are often, "I'm not okay."
In communities across the country, too many boys and young men carry pressure, pain, anxiety, and uncertainty in silence. They are taught to be strong, yet rarely given spaces where they can be vulnerable without judgment.
From 18th to 20th June, Kayole became one of those spaces.
The Speak Up Bro initiative, organized by Twaweza CBO in partnership with Global Advocates of Peace Flag, brought together young men through sport, art, environmental action, mental health conversations, and access to medical services. What began as a football tournament grew into something deeply human: conversations between friends, moments of reflection, shared experiences, and the realization that no one has to face life's struggles alone.
Across the three days, young men ran, painted, planted, learned, laughed, opened up, and connected. The message was simple but powerful: every young man deserves a safe space to speak, heal, and grow.
The journey does not end in Kayole. Every conversation started, every life touched, and every barrier broken brings us one step closer to communities where seeking support is seen as courage, where wellbeing matters, and where no young man feels invisible.
This Men's Mental Health Month, we celebrate the voices that were heard, the lives that were reached, and the hope that continues to grow. Safaricom PLC