In Kakamega, Ikolomani; Abdi Lidonde, elder brother  of Tony Lidonde and son of football legend Elijah Lidonde has announced intention to bring his international experience and community-driven approach to political leadership as he prepares to run for the Ikolomani parliamentary seat.

Drawing from years of exposure abroad and engagement with development initiatives, Lidonde says his leadership vision for Ikolomani will be anchored on three key pillars: education empowerment, sports development, and diaspora-driven community transformation.

He has expressed a strong commitment to expanding access to education and ensuring that young people are supported beyond the classroom. His approach focuses not only on helping students complete their studies but also on equipping them with skills, training and opportunities that enable them to establish stable livelihoods after school.

He believes many rural students fall into uncertainty after finishing school due to lack of guidance, mentorship and structured transition pathways. Lidonde therefore plans to champion programs that link education to practical skills training, mentorship networks and career development opportunities, enabling young people in Ikolomani to compete both locally and internationally.

Coming from the family of the late Elijah Lidonde – the one of founding players of AFC Leopards; Sports Club, sports development forms an integral part of his agenda.

He has previously partnered with organisations that identify and prepare talented student-athletes for sports scholarships in the United States, which has opened doors for young Africans to pursue higher education through sports. Lidonde says he believes the rich sports talent in western Kenya remains largely untapped, and with proper scouting, training and mentorship structures and many youths could access international opportunities.

Under his vision, sports would not only serve as recreation but also as a pathway to education, discipline, professional careers and economic empowerment for young people.

Lidonde puts emphasis on the critical role of the diaspora in accelerating grassroots development. Having worked closely with Kenyan communities abroad, he has witnessed how skills, networks, investment and exposure from the diaspora can significantly transform local communities.

He says his experience demonstrates that when well-coordinated, diaspora engagement can support education initiatives, sports programmes, entrepreneurship and community infrastructure.

Based on these pillars, Lidonde says his goal is to catalyse new opportunities in Ikolomani, particularly in education access, sports talent development and grassroots empowerment of youth and women.

He says he believes Ikolomani constituency has immense potential that can be unlocked through strategic partnerships, community-driven programmes and international linkages, positioning Ikolomani as a model for rural development powered by talent, education and global connections.

• A Tell Media report / By Aggrey Abdi Lidonde Campaign team