On a humid afternoon in Nyanza, the sound of football commentary crackles through old radios and mobile phones alike. The voices are animated, familiar, unmistakably local. For many listeners, Girwa Radio 99.5 FM is not just reporting a match. It is telling their story.
Across the football pitches of Homa Bay and the athletics tracks of Kisii, sports have long been a source of pride and escape. Yet for years, the achievements of local athletes and grassroots teams rarely traveled beyond their immediate communities. National coverage was distant. Platforms were limited. Talent remained unseen.
Girwa Radio set out to change that.
The station’s sports campaign was born from a simple belief: sports are more than games. They are a unifying force, a classroom, and a launchpad for opportunity. Through consistent, community-focused programming, Girwa Radio has turned sports broadcasting into a tool for empowerment across the Nyanza region.
The campaign goes beyond match results. Through live coverage, local-language commentary, interactive talk shows, and on-the-ground engagement, Girwa Radio brings listeners into the heart of the action. School competitions, village tournaments, county leagues, and national fixtures all find space on the airwaves.
But the broadcasts carry more than excitement. They carry conversations.
Youth empowerment, health awareness, gender equality, and community development are woven into sports programming, using the universal language of competition to spark dialogue and reflection. Young listeners hear not only who scored, but why discipline matters. Not only who won, but how teamwork builds resilience beyond the field.
For aspiring athletes, the impact is tangible. Being mentioned on air validates effort. Being interviewed builds confidence. Being seen creates pathways. Coaches, schools, and local federations now tune in, listening for emerging talent they might otherwise miss.
The campaign also fosters unity across counties, bridging communities through shared moments of celebration and rivalry. In a region shaped by strong local identities, sports become common ground.
This year, Girwa Radio’s work was recognized with a Silver Award, courtesy of SportPesa’s Tujiamini, accompanied by a prize of 100,000 Kenyan shillings. The recognition affirmed what listeners already knew: community-centered media still matters.
The station has used the momentum to deepen partnerships with schools, sports federations, sponsors, and local organizers, all with one goal in mind, building a sustainable sporting culture rooted in access and inclusion.
At a time when many young people feel unseen, Girwa Radio offers something powerful. Attention. Belief. Voice.
On 99.5 FM, sports are not distant spectacles. They are lived experiences, shared victories, and lessons carried home after the final whistle. In telling the untold stories of Nyanza’s athletes and fans, Girwa Radio is proving that sometimes, the most transformative change begins not in stadiums, but on the airwaves.