Bakee Mtaani

Bakee Mtaani

Formation	2019;5 years ago (2019)
Founder	Jonathan Jackson Foundation
Type	Sports-based community program
Headquarters	4th Ngong Avenue, Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya
Website	jonathanjacksonfoundation.org//

Bakee Mtaani(Basketball in the Hood) is a sports-based community program, an initiative of the Jonathan Jackson Foundation that focuses on building basketball courts in Nairobi, Kenya. Two such courts have been contructed at Gatina Primary, and Holy Ghost Mission (HGM) Primary School in Riruta, ^[1] both in Dagoretti North Constituency, at the BP Riruta Stadium ^[2] in Dagoretti South, and at the Humama Grounds, ^[3] in Komoarock, Embakasi South Constituency.

History

Bakee Mtaani uses the game of basketball as a tool to address socio-economic challenges faced by the youth in Nairobi's informal settlements by providing access to courts for fun, team-building, and engagement. Via the program, the courts provide safe spaces for the youth to showcase their talents ^[4] and to interact, keeping them preoccupied and hence reducing the chances of engaging in social vices such as crime, prostitution, drug & substance abuse.

The first Pilot full-size Basketball Court was constructed and launched in November 2020, at Gatina Primary School in Kawangware, Dagoretti North Constituency. ^[5] A year later, the second one was launched ^[6] in the same constituency ^[7] at the Holy Ghost Mission (HGM) Primary School in Riruta, Kawangware, four months after it's groundbreaking.

The third court was constructed and unveiled at the BP Riruta Stadium in Dagoretti South Constituency in January 2022. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]} Construction of the fourth courth was announced in May 2022 ^[13] in Humama Grounds, Komarock, in Kayole, following a partnership with eatery KFC., ^{[14] [15] [16] [17]} and unveiled two months later, in July 2023. ^{[18] [19] [20]}

References

1. Michezo Afrika, 30 Nov 2021 CS Amina Mohamed launches second 'Bakee Mtaani' court in Riruta
2. The Star, 31 Jan 2022 Jonathan Jackson Foundation to construct 12 basketball courts
3. Standard, 19 May 2022 Basketball: Hope for Kayole as Bakee Mtaani launch Sh2.5million basketball ground
4. The Star, 27 Nov 2021 of Kenyan sports is in your hands', Amina tells slum youths
5. People Daily, 17 Nov 2020 JJ Foundation constructs modern basketball court in Kawangware
6. Mozzart Sport, 30 Nov 2021 City Stars boss turns to basketball for community development
7. Team Kenya, 30 Nov 2021 Billionaire Investor Building Basketball Courts in Nairobi
8. Nation, 29 Jan 2022, KBF clears Riruta courts for league games
9. Nation 18 May 2023 Mtaani' initiative crosses over to Kayole
10. Standard, 19 May 2022 Basketball: Hope for Kayole as Bakee Mtaani launch Sh2.5million basketball ground
11. Citizen, 20 May 2022 Bakee Mtaani Initiative Launches Ultra-Modern Basketball Court In Kayole
12. The Star, 21 May 2023 JJF partners with KFC to build basketball court in Komarock
13. Standard, 23 Jul 2023 New dawn as Bake Mtaani unveil new basketball court in Kayole
14. Nation 18 May 2023 Mtaani' initiative crosses over to Kayole
15. Standard, 19 May 2022 Basketball: Hope for Kayole as Bakee Mtaani launch Sh2.5million basketball ground
16. Citizen, 20 May 2022 Bakee Mtaani Initiative Launches Ultra-Modern Basketball Court In Kayole
17. The Star, 21 May 2023 JJF partners with KFC to build basketball court in Komarock
18. Citizen, 22 Jul 2022 Bakee Mtaani Initiative Launches Third Basketball Court
19. The Star, 23 Jul 2022 Fiba-standard basketball court unveiled at Humama grounds, Kayole
20. Mozzart Sport, 27 Jul 2022 Full-size FIBA standard basketball court unveiled in Kayole