Swordplay game gives youths fighting chance for better future

The vibrant streets of Huruma in Nairobi, are pulsating with anticipation. In a neighbourhood renowned for its lively atmosphere and constant activity, a remarkable event is taking place.

Young individuals adorned in pristine white overalls, donning protective headgear and sneakers, have become the centre of attention. They carry in their hands a sword-like tool, adding to the intrigue and excitement that has gripped the area.

As scores gather around them marvelling at their nimble footwork, swift swordplay, and unwavering focus, these young athletes are turning the concrete jungle into their very own training ground. The spectacle that has mesmerised motorists and pedestrians alike is the sport of fencing.

From guns to swords

Fencing is a competitive sport that involves two individuals, known as fencers, engaging in a simulated sword fight. It is also recognised as one of the five original Olympic sports. The objective of the sport, which is characterised by its fast-paced nature, strategic elements, and the use of various specialised weapons is to score points by making valid attacks while avoiding being hit by the opponent.

The brains behind the project dubbed Tsavora Fencing Mtaani is 27-year-old Issac Mburu, a man once haunted by his past life in crime and though now fully exorcised, the hurdles he has had to surmount remind him of what could have been if he did not break free from the cycle of violence and crime that plagued his teenage years.

“I grew up in an environment full of gangsters. All of them were much older than me. I even started carrying guns when I was 14 years old. This is the dangerous life I found myself in after succumbing to peer pressure and being told that I could make good money,” said Mburu.

In the dead of night, a young Mburu would be summoned by his new-found brethren, oblivious of what was in store for him. He found himself in the middle of an active crime scene, where innocent civilians would be mugged at gunpoint.

“I was young and did not fully understand what was happening and by the time I realised, it was too late. We would go out on a ‘mission’ and later, the older boys would give me Sh100 as a reward. No one at home knew what I was doing, I was silent on the matter and as the youngest member of the gang, I was not allowed to question the actions of others,” he said.

As the years went by, the gang fully immersed itself in a life of crime, the risks they took rose in scale, but so did the dangers each member exposed themselves to. Since he was so impressionable, Mburu thought that his future was cast in stone, convinced that his life would never amount to anything better.

Several encounters with the police, however, saw him contemplate his future particularly since some of the young men he associated himself with were gunned down, their names eternally linked to criminality within their communities, etched as epitaphs that marked their untimely demise.

“There was a time we were chased by police who started shooting at us, while some fled, I hid in a nearby river, anxious that my time had come to an end. Ultimately, I saw friends dying, some were in jail, and I wondered if this was really the life I wanted for myself. I thought of my young children and then I decided to step up and change my life for the better,” exclaimed Mburu.

Changed to change others

Amidst the shadows of his past, Mburu discovered a lifeline that would ultimately lead him toward redemption, the sport of fencing. Having taken a keen interest in the sport since he was nine years old, he decided to retrace his steps and use the sport as an anchor to focus and pursue discipline.

It was at a local centre that rehabilitated youth engaged in crime, drug abuse among other vices, where he honed his fencing skills, mastering the art of swordplay.
“I trained almost every day and wanted to become a better version of myself. Even amongst my peers, I constantly challenge them to pursue their dreams and remind them that nothing is impossible,” explained Mburu.

Mburu rose to the top of the sport to represent Kenya at the 2022 World Fencing championship in Cairo, Egypt. Also, after pursuing a scholarship to obtain a high certificate in coaching science and a Master in Fencing, he decided to start Tsavora Fencing Mtaani in 2021 to give youth in his neighbourhood a fighting chance at a better future.

So far, he has managed to attract and retain at least 50 young boys and girls to his programme, while also leading a fencing curriculum in the country’s major international schools where dedicated instructors under his tutelage nurture the potential of these talented youngsters, instilling discipline, focus, and a strong sense of sportsmanship.

“Back in the slum areas, we are, however, faced with several challenges including a lack of proper training facilities and equipment. We also lack proper sponsorship that will enable us to send some of our young talent to participate in regional and international competitions,” he reveals.
Noticeably, however, through the programme, 10 of his young students have been selected to join Kenya’s National Junior Fencing team.