▪️The future stars are wondering how boxing comedians are getting a lot of financial support while no one cares about them at their Kibra Youth Club
▪️Know your future champions: profiles of Ellah Demesi, Clinton “Canelo” Omondi and Phelix Ochieng
March 24, 2026
The three promising boxers go back to their roots to share with us how and when they got involved with boxing, and to whom they attribute their success to plus the challenges they face.
ELLAH DEMESI
Age: 16 years
Stance: Southpaw
School: Shadrack Kimalel
Class: Grade 10
Favourite subject: Chemistry
Ambition: Achieve greatness in boxing by winning several titles up to the world level
Boxing idol: Veronica Mbithe and Caroline Dubois
Titles won: Junior championship 2025/2026 at Pal Pal
Where you started boxing: At Kibra Youth Club under coach Edward Ogweno
First coach and how you benefited from him: My first and current coach is Ogweno. He guided me well showing me various boxing skills and techniques on how to tackle different type of opponents. He is also good in giving me mental and emotional support during tough times. My second coach is Vincent.
To whom do you attribute your success to: Caroline Dubois because she inspires me through her dedication, techniques and mental toughness.
Toughest opponent: Stacy
Most memorable win: Nairobi junior championship
Boxing challenges in Kibra: Lack of modern facilities at our gym and equipment. I’m also appealing to sponsors to support us because we lack funds to compete in tournaments outside Nairobi. If SportPesa and prominent people are supporting boxing comedians they should also do the same to us
Hobbies: Travelling, listening to music and watching movies
Favourite food: Pilau, chicken and chips
PHELIX OCHIENG
Club: Kibra Youth
Age:16 years
Stance: Orthodox
School: Raila Educational Centre
Class: Grade 10
Favourite subject: History and English
Ambition: Winning many titles and become a world champion
Boxing idol: Paul Omondi who was my clubmate before joining Police
Boxing titles won: Nairobi junior featherweight title in 2025 and 2026
Where you started your boxing: I joined boxing in 2024 at St Martin School and the moved to Kibra Youth Club
Who inspired you to take up boxing: My grandfather
First coach and how you benefited from him: Coach Ogweno. Gave me mental support, motivation, taught me to respect my teammates and opponents. He also instilled discipline in me
Whom do you attribute your success to: I thank Paul Omondi for inspiring me and taught me a lot through hard sparring. I also admire his boxing style, discipline and he’s a hard worker
Toughest opponent: Ayub
Most memorable win: Nairobi junior championship
Boxing challenges in Kibra: Our club lacks a sponsor. We lack several things like punchbags, skipping ropes, pads, tracksuits and generally modern facilities. We also need funds to travel outside Nairobi during boxing competitions. Our coaches also need some allowance because right they don’t get any payment. What has surprised us is seeing boxing comedians promised a lot of money. We need that money also because we’re representing our country, comedians are just doing it for fun.
Hobbies: Playing volleyball ana riding bicycle
Favourite food: Chapati with beef, fried chicken, ugali, fish and vegetables
CLINTON “CANELO” OMONDI
Club: Kibra Youth Boxing Club
Age: 15 years
Stance: Southpaw
School: Mbagathi Junior Secondary
Class: Grade 9
Favourite subjects: Social Sciences
Ambition in boxing: To win major titles and make good money through by two fists
Your boxing idol: Alvarez Canelo
Which year did you start learning boxing: I started boxing in 2020 at Kibra Youth Boxing Club
Who inspired you to take up boxing: My father Jacob Aiden inspired me to take up boxing.
First coach and how you have benefited from him: Coach Ogweno. I benefited a lot from him because he was very patient with me showing me all the basics of boxing and what to expect ahead. He also instilled discipline in me.
To whom do you attribute your successful boxing progression: I attribute it to coach Ogweno
Toughest opponent: The DR Congo boxer I fought in the semi-finals of the African Youth Games in 2025. He was a difficult opponent because he was stronger than me, and we suspected he was not my age mate.
Most memorable win: Against the Malawi boxer in African Youth Games boxing quarter-final.
Boxing challenges in Kibra: The challenges we go through are lack of equipment such as punchbags, skipping ropes, speedballs, and several other modern facilities..Our club also lacks cash to enable us travel out of Kibra for tournaments held outside Nairobi. We urgently need a sponsor.
When it rains it becomes muddy in Kibra making it hard make it to the gym. There’s also thuggery but as a boxer I don’t fear anybody.
Hobbies: Reading books and watching pro bouts to learn new skills.
Favourite food: Chapati and beans.
