International youth development organisation IfWeBuildIt.org is exploring a strategic partnership with Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU) to expand access to baseball and softball for young people in Nairobi and its environs.
Speaking during a meeting with representatives of IfWeBuildIt.org at the university, MMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Rosebella Maranga welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for their interest in collaborating with the institution in advancing youth development through sport.
Prof. Maranga expressed the university’s commitment to continued investment in programmes, infrastructure, research and partnerships aligned with industry and community needs, noting that sports remain an integral component of student development at MMU.
“Sports are central to the holistic development of our students. We are proud of our strong record in co-curricular activities, with softball emerging as one of our flagship sports that has gained national recognition and produced alumni who represent Kenya in national teams,” she said.
The VC noted that MMU is open to collaboration with IfWeBuildIt.org in construction of a modern softball and baseball field at the university.
She emphasised that the institution has adequate land available for the project, which aligns with its strategic goals of nurturing talent, promoting sports excellence and empowering youth.
Prof. Maranga also commended IfWeBuildIt.org for its commitment to youth development and expressed optimism that the proposed partnership will be mutually beneficial and impactful for both the university and the surrounding community.
IfWeBuildIt.org Co-founder Thom Wallace said the meeting aimed at exploring how the organisation’s existing model, successfully implemented with other universities including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), can be replicated at MMU to expand baseball and softball opportunities for young people across Kenya.
“The main objective is to look at how we can take our existing model and bring it to Multimedia University of Kenya to help expand baseball and softball access for youth across Nairobi and around the Ongata Rongai region,” Wallace said.
He added that the collaboration seeks to create safe and accessible spaces where university students and children from the local community can play and develop their talents in the sport.
“Once we assess the feasibility of the space, we believe that with the university’s incredible capacity and technical expertise, working together with our team, we can move quickly to create these playing spaces. We are optimistic that within 2026, we will see young people from MMU and the surrounding community playing baseball and softball on these grounds,” he noted.
Also present at the meeting were IfWeBuildIt.org co-founder Kevin Schreiber and Strategic Advisor Carl Wambasi, MMU Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, Research and Innovation Prof. Livingstone Ngoo, Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Finance and Planning Prof. Geoffrey Rurimo, Sports Manager Mr. Francis Karugu, Ag. Registrar Administration Dr. George Mocheche, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology Prof. Abel Mayaka, Legal Officer Mr. Wilson Kagwe and Estates Manager Eng. Saul Mogusu.
By Nicanor Ndiege