▪️KDF now lead the overall points table with 49 points following their dominant performance in Mombasa with Police second on 38
July 12, 2026
Against the scenic backdrop of the Kilindini Channel at the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Kenya’s port city of Mombasa, Damacline Boyani stole the spotlight in the Kenya National Boxing League second leg finals on July 11, 2026.
The resilient 20-year-old former streetgirl, who used to sniff glue and jet fuel with her friends, pulled off a shocking 3-2 points victory over national light-flyweight champion, Jane Wangare of the Kenya Prisons Service. She was named the best female boxer in the Kenya Open Championships at Kaloleni Social Hall in April, 2026.
Damacline’s high profile win offers her a direct pathway out of street life, access to proper substance abuse rehabilitation and a secure environment for her six-month-old son. Her victory perfectly embodies the spirit of the Boxing Federation of Kenya Ndondi Mashinani initiative, proving elite-level talent exists far beyond the well-funded institutional teams like the KDF, Police and Prisons. Damacline’s triumph also serves as a profound beacon of hope for street children and youth facing extreme poverty across Kenya, demonstrating their current circumstances do not dictate their ultimate potential.
“I felt so nice beating Wangare I didn’t expect it. I was told she’s strong,” Damacline told boxersworld.co.ke.
A delighted Damacline went on:”I was scared heading to the ring because one of my friends a boxer told me Wangare has strong punches, and that I’ll not finish three rounds but when we started I didn’t feel her punches.
“What shocked me is when she was counted I couldn’t believe it it’s the national champion being counted to eight, I was so happy and this encouraged me, my coach Benja told me I was ahead.”
As she breastfed her baby, six-month-old Jamal, Damacline or Dama to her close friends, said she has quit street life and is now staying with her mum at Mwiki in Kenya’s capital city Nairobi.
“I used to sniff glue and jet fuel but I’ve now reformed. Boxing changed me, I’m very grateful to my coach Benja for pulling me out of the streets to join his club Kasarani Youth.”
Why did she name his son Jamal?
“I named my son Jamal after our federation President Jamal because he’s a good man he helps boxers,” responded Damacline who hails from Ogembo in Bomachoge Chache Sub-County, Kisii County.
“I would like our president Jamal to support me get a job with Kenya Police, I want to be a cop, I like their morale. I trained with the Police team at Mathare Depot I enjoyed it.”
In addition to Damacline Boyani, the other impressive performers among the rising stars were KDF’s light-welterweight Pius Macharia, G44’s pair of bantamweight Emmanuel Otieno and featherweight Euticus Wanjau, Kasarani Youth’s Elvis Lincoln and KDF’s Geofrey Ayacko.
Pius Macharia was in sparkling form upsetting Africa bronze medallist Aloice Vincent in their third match having lost twice to the Prisons boxer in past two encounters.
“Aloice is a pressure fighter but I contained him by maintaining my range,” Macharia, a product of coach Mike Munga at Umoja Boxing Club, told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview.
In the finals, Macharia beat Elvis Lincoln 4-1.
“The final against Lincoln was not strenuous, he’s a pressure fighter too but I now have the right formular to contain them.”
For Kasarani Youth coach, Benjamin Musyoka, Damacline’s achievement was the culmination of his laboured efforts convincing her to take up the sport.
“Damacline started boxing in June, 2024. I’m extremely delighted for her victory after struggling so much with her,” Musyoka told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview.
“She used to come irregularly for training. Today she comes, next day you don’t see her so I’m forced to trace Damacline pull her away from the streets in bad company and back to the gym for training. I’ll keep on supporting her hoping she gets a job at some of the big clubs.”
“We can’t doubt our performance as Kasarani Youth because in every competition there must be a winner and a loser.
“Thumbs up to the referees and judges for good officiating, they did a great job, it’s only one bout the bantamweight final.
Emmanuel Otieno from G44 sincerely speaking won that fight.”
In some of the highlights, Kasarani Youth sensational lightweight Ben Juma squeezed 3-2 points victory over KDF’s 2022 Africa silver medallist Samuel Njau, Africa light-middleweight champion Boniface “The Hammer” Mogunde scored his fourth consecutive victory over his main rival Alvin Oduor of KDF and in the process maintained his eight-year unbeaten run locally, light-heavyweight Robert “Man Ngori” Okaka outpointed Emmanuel Malaba of Vihiga, African Games bantamweight bronze medallist Amina Martha defeated her Commonwealth Games sparring partner Pauline Chege of KDF 5-0, Africa Zone 3 2025 silver medallist Mwinyi “Giant Killer” Kombo beat Euticus Wanjau of G44 5-0, African Games middleweight champion Edwin “Ocox” Okong’o of KDF outpointed Kibra Olympics’ Kennedy Omollo with KDF’s George Ayacko beating Sombea’s Jasper Sagali.
Meanwhile, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) pummelled their way to a spectacular victory, collecting 27 points to edge out their arch-rivals and defending champions, Kenya Police who placed second with 16 points followed by Kasarani Youth 8 and fourth-placed Sombea on six.
The soldiers now take over the overall lead with 49 points following the 22 points earned in the first leg of the league in Nakuru..
Led by Corporal Veronica Mbithe, KDF also dominated the women’s category to finish on top with eight points followed by Summit from Kisumu six and third-placed Vihiga four points.
The soldiers demonstrated supreme grit and technical mastery, making a statement across the league table of their intentions this season. While the reigning Police outfit brought their usual lethal intensity, the sheer volume of tactical victories by KDF’s formidable squad allowed them to break away in the standings. KDF’s dominance effectively disrupted the early-season rhythm of their traditional rivals, cementing their status as the team to beat for the overall national crown.
Spectators were treated to an electrifying atmosphere where each fierce jab and punishing hook resonated with the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean. The coastal breeze carried the roar of passionate fans filling the iconic open-air arena. Boxers left everything in the ring under the floodlights, with the towering cranes and passing cargo ships of the Kilindini Harbour providing an industrial yet deeply scenic maritime backdrop.
Celebrating the 45th anniversary in 2026, the vibrant atmosphere in the national league and huge attendance of participants once again proved that boxing in Kenya is as dynamic and captivating as ever.
