Footballer Victor Wanyama Partners with UN-Habitat to Support Kenyans Living in Slums

Canada-based football star Victor Wanyama has partnered with the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) to support Kenyans from poor backgrounds.

Wanyama agreed to work with the UN agency in improving the living standards of youths in cities and informal settlements. He will also assist with UN-Habitat’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts in the slums.

“Excited to team up with @UNHABITAT to improve the living conditions of the youth in the cities and informal settlements in Kenya and also able to assist towards UN-Habitat’s COVID-19 Mitigation efforts in the informal settlements,” Wanyama said through Twitter on Tuesday.

As the UN-Habitat Goodwill Ambassador, the 28-year-old Harambee Stars skipper has contributed $10,000 (Sh1.09 million) towards the agency’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts in Kenya’s informal settlements.

Under the partnership, Wanyama and UN-Habitat will help vulnerable women, girls, children, and youth living in slums to access better urban services, including water and sanitation and job opportunities.

They will also promote affordable housing for the urban poor, support communities’ recovery from COVID-19, and provide skills development.

Wanyama, who currently plays for MLS side Montreal Impact, has been at the forefront in assisting needy youth through Victor Wanyama Foundation. Two years ago, the foundation established its maiden scholarship fund to assist needy students with full scholarships for their secondary school education.

He is currently building an ultra-modern sports complex academy for both indoor and outdoor sporting arenas in Busia County.