Kalobeyei
Spirit
Karibu sana to the very first KLABU sports clubhouse, located in the Kalobeyei Settlement in Kenya. South Sudanese, Congolese or Kenyan, refugees or locals, everybody is welcome here.
The Kalobeyei Settlement is located in northern Kenya, not far from South Sudan and Uganda.
Meet the players and feel the spirit. Welcome to KLABU!
At the KLABU in Kalobeyei young people come together every day to meet and play - from football to volleyball, and from table tennis to yoga.
The settlement is home to 80,000 refugees from more than 10 African countries who live together with the local Turkana tribe. They are creating a new life in a new land, not just surviving. They are building houses, starting businesses, and going to church and school. And, of course, doing more of what they love and dream about - whether that is studying, running small businesses or coaching a football team.
The Kalobeyei community loves to play sports. But sports initiatives were nearly non-existent before the introduction of KLABU, and there was a lack of equipment and facilities. In close collaboration with the local community and UNHCR, LWF and Roof For Humanity, we developed the clubhouse and sports library system. The name KLABU, which didn't exist when we began, was soon adopted by the local community, as people started to call the clubhouse their 'klabu', meaning 'club' in Swahili.
The KLABU is about much more than sports. It's also a social hub, fully led by the local community and open to everyone. Other organisations even use the clubhouse for their activities.
The Kenya Red Cross hosts social events at the KLABU, the Dutch football federation KNVB organises coaching sessions, the artist Machar offers drawing lessons, and every weekend the local yoga teacher Oboma Alfred guides the community through yoga classes. In addition to sports, the local music producer, Ismael, organises the highly popular "Kalobattle" music competition.
Solar power, TV, sound, and Wi-Fi enable these organisations and the community to broadcast football matches, play music, organise events, and connect online with loved ones in home countries. This makes the clubhouse a space where refugees and locals from all ages and backgrounds come together on their way to a better future.
Meet our local team (top to bottom row): Nyagoa, Joy, Osili, Dominique, Jean Marie, Sadumba, Alain, Paul, Mama Riziki
"The most amazing thing about KLABU is that it’s open to everyone, especially for the youths who can do something that they love. The community has so much hope in the KLABU that it will change lives."
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The program goes beyond sports: KLABU Manager Nancy leads a lifeskills session for girls at the Clubhouse
Sunday Imara embodies the unstoppable energy of the Girls Run Club.
A basketball tournament by the Kenyan Red Cross and KLABU — teamwork, energy, and joy on the court
Kalobeyei's first ever Girls Running Club, supported by On
JACKSON PAUL OF HOMIRI FC PROUDLY LIFTING THE KLABU FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT TROPHY
Together with our partners Changing Lives we are organising regular Mental Health workshops at the Clubhouse
Yoga taught by Oboma Alfred is amongst the most popular activities in Kalobeyei
Board games like Ludo bring everyone together
Yakub Luka proudly receives his KNVB WorldCoach certificate
Board games like Ludo and chess are super popular
The Kalobattle takes place every week at the KLABU – a music event that brings together Kalobeyei’s rising talent
At the KLABU, table tennis is a favourite — fast-paced fun for everyone!
Volleyball for all: where boys and girls come together on the pitch
Kalobeyei's very first ultimate frisbee team coached by KLABU Manager Jean Marie
KNVB WorldCoaches Program with former Kenyan national coach Francis Kimanzi and Martha Karimi
Arts Classes are organised weekly by local artist Machar
Friendly competition on the virtual pitch
Evening time in Kalobeyei — the KLABU comes alive with energy, unity and joy.
Clubhouse agenda
KLABU clubhouse managers Sadumba, Nyagoa, Paul, Jean Marie, and Nancy manage a lively schedule with activities for everyone. Whether you like to throw a frisbee, want to cheer for your favourite club at the live sports broadcasts, do some healthy stretches at the weekly yoga sessions, or join Kalobeyei's first girls running club – everyone is welcome to share in the fun.
Saturday
01 August ’26
09:00 - 10:00
Yoga with Alfred
We invite all genders to join our weekly yoga sessions!
Monday
03 August ’26
17:00 - 18:00
Girls Football Practice
A weekly football class organised by our Head Manager Sadumba.
Monday
03 August ’26
15:00 - 17:00
Social Games Afternoon
Join the table tennis tournament or come by for a game of chess..
Tuesday
04 August ’26
16:00 - 17:00
Taekwondo
Master your body, focus your mind.
Tuesday
04 August ’26
16:00 - 17:00
Weekly Arts Classes by Local Artist Machar
All levels welcome!
Thursday
06 August ’26
16:00 - 18:00
Girls Running Club
Join Nyagoa at Kalobeyei's first Girls Running Club.
Friday
07 August ’26
15:00 - 16:00
Basketball Training
Come and join Pacific and the Kuza Kids Collective for basketball close to the clubhouse!
Friday
07 August ’26
15:00 - 17:00
Kalobattle Music Competition
Dance and sing into the weekend at one of the most vibrant music competitions in Kalobeyei.
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"When I play football, I feel happy and excited. I love the teamwork – At KLABU many players from different nationalities, backgrounds, or tribes come together and unite as one team."
The Kalobeyei spirit badge
The badge symbolises the three villages
in the settlement, united through camels
which are the pride of the local Kenyan Turkana and a staple of life in the region. The camels’ embrace shows friendship & unity.
Pure pride and joy in every shirt
The Kalobeyei Spirit shirt was featured in FIFA21 so the community can play in their shirts
Impact so far
- Over 11,000 inhabitants of Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement and the surrounding host community have come through the doors of KLABU.
- On average, over 2,000 participants show up every week - proof of just how strongly the Kalobeyei community embraces the power of sport.
- The clubhouse is run by a team of 9 residents of the camp, themselves refugees from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, Congo and Rwanda. They are the KLABU managers: Sadumba, Jean Marie, Paul, Nyagoa, Joy, Alain, Osili, Dominic, and Mama Riziki.
- This local team has transformed the clubhouse from a simple sports library into a social hub: with Wi-Fi to learn and stay connected, a TV to catch their favourite sports, and music to dance and sing along to.
- The KLABU managers have also turned the clubhouse into a base for other organisations. Local groups like Kuza Kids, alongside national and international ones such as the Kenya Red Cross, the KNVB, and various community-based organisations, all use the space for their activities, widening its impact into health, education, and culture.
- We keep building on the spirit of Kalobeyei. Together with our partners, we've created a vibrant indoor space next to the clubhouse - a safe place for yoga, workshops such as life skills, taekwondo, and much more. Just steps away, the best basketball court in Kalobeyei now offers even more ways for the community to play, connect, and grow - and the first-ever tennis club, run by Peter, is taking shape too!
- Together with the UK-based organisation Changing Lives, we organise regular mental health sessions at the clubhouse.
- Through the KLABU brand, the Kalobeyei Spirit has crossed borders. With a shirt worn by many around the world, and even featured in FIFA 21, KLABU members are recognised, honoured, and part of a worldwide club.
- But beyond the numbers, it's the bonds that make KLABU what it is. The managers have grown so close over the years that they've attended each other's weddings, gone on outings together, and supported one another through their studies.
Discover more about the Kalobeyei Spirit, its members, and impact through the stories below.
Clubhousestories
Say hello to our KLABU storytellers! Jean Marie and Nancy are on the ground, capturing the action and sharing the spirit live from Kalobeyei.
ClubSupport
Kalobeyei Spirit is supported by these great organisations and individuals.
The project could not have been realised without many more contributors:
Wear the Kalobeyei Spirit
By wearing KLABU sportswear, you support refugees in Kalobeyei and around the world.
