In the heart of Dagoretti North, where crime, drugs and hopelessness have become a painful norm for many youths, one man is steadily changing the tide\u2014Francis Obwora<\/strong>, popularly known as Franco<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently serving as the Dagoretti North Chairperson of the Nairobi County Liquor Board, Franco is a man on a mission. A trained martial artist with a black belt in Taekwondo, a former elite security operative, and a respected community mentor, Franco has proven that leadership does not always require a title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though born in Busia, Franco proudly calls Kawangware home\u2014having grown up in its densely populated lanes, navigating poverty, peer pressure, and the ever-looming threat of crime. Today, he uses that lived experience to lead transformational work among at-risk youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I\u2019ve stayed here long enough to understand this area\u2014its people, its challenges, and its politics. When the youth face problems\u2014personal, legal, or communal\u2014they come to me. I don\u2019t take that lightly,”<\/em> says Franco.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Franco\u2019s journey into Taekwondo wasn\u2019t driven by sport or fame\u2014it was survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We grew up in an environment where crime was rampant. I took up Taekwondo for self-defense. But through training, I gained inner calm and discipline. I realized I could use my skills not to fight\u2014but to build,”<\/em> he recalls.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Over the years, Franco has trained hundreds of young people in martial arts\u2014not just to defend themselves, but to build character and purpose. Many have gone on to become instructors, athletes, and role models in their own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His discipline and professionalism have opened doors for him to work as a security detail for some of Kenya\u2019s most prominent leaders, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi<\/strong>, former Governor Mike Sonko<\/strong>, former Nairobi Speaker and MP Dagoretti North Hon Beatrice Elachi<\/strong>, Hon. Tim Wanyonyi, and current Governor Johnson Sakaja<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Working with dignitaries requires extreme discipline, situational awareness, and integrity. I\u2019m grateful for the lessons and trust those roles gave me,”<\/em> says Franco.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n With unemployment, drug addiction, and crime wreaking havoc among the youth, Franco chose not to stand aside. Instead, he\u2019s taken a proactive role in social reintegration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The high rates of teen pregnancy, school dropouts, and substance abuse break my heart. I couldn\u2019t sit back. I began speaking to the youth, mentoring them, and thanks to the networks I\u2019ve built, I\u2019ve helped many secure jobs, start businesses, or return to school and TVETs,”<\/em> he shares.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Through partnerships with Governor Sakaja<\/strong> and Hon. Elachi<\/strong>, Franco has helped launch boda boda ventures, car washes, and small businesses\u2014offering real hope to many in Dagoretti North.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His commitment did not go unnoticed. Governor Sakaja appointed him as Liquor Board Chairperson<\/strong> for Dagoretti North, recognizing his unique ability to engage youth, mediate conflicts, and bring calm to the streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Franco is also a vocal champion for peace and reconciliation. He has been leading peace campaigns across Dagoretti North<\/strong>, working to avert a repeat of the post-election violence witnessed in 2013 and 2017<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Violence never solves anything. We must talk to our people, create awareness, and handle our differences peacefully. I\u2019m committed to that cause,”<\/em> says Obwora.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n As political winds begin to stir ahead of the 2027 General Elections<\/strong>, Franco is listening to the people of Kabiro Ward<\/strong>, who have urged him to run for the MCA seat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I\u2019m a proud resident of Kabiro. The people want a new kind of leadership\u2014one of action, not promises. I\u2019ve heard them. In 2027, I will present myself for the position of Member of County Assembly,”<\/em> he declares.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n If elected, Franco promises to focus on infrastructure, education, and economic empowerment<\/strong>, particularly targeting women and youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But even without a seat in office, Franco is already shaping lives and futures\u2014living proof that you don\u2019t need a title to serve humanity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Story by Julius Anyula Nakuti, Political Affairs Reporter \u2013 Good Morning Kenya<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Julius Anyula Nakuti | Good Morning Kenya \u2013 Dagoretti North, Nairobi In the heart of Dagoretti North, where crime, drugs and hopelessness have become a painful norm for many youths, one man is steadily changing the tide\u2014Francis Obwora, popularly known as Franco. Currently serving as the Dagoretti North Chairperson of the Nairobi County Liquor …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":17788,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17780"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17780\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17786,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17780\/revisions\/17786"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/inbound4869655265664631562-578x1024.jpg\")
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\n\n\n\nFrom Self-Defense to Community Upliftment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nA Champion for the Youth of Dagoretti North<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nPromoting Peace Beyond Politics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nEyes on 2027: A Leadership Call<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n#FrancoTheTransformer | #YouthChampion | #PeaceBuilder<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n