▪️KDF’s international Washington Wandera’s territory is in danger against ambitious youngsters Ben Juma and Emmanuel Omolo
March 31, 2026
The lightweight division in this year’s National Kenya Open Boxing Championships is a mix of ambitious youngsters and experienced Washington Wandera of KDF.
Kaloleni Social Hall will host the Kenya Open from April 1-4, 2026.
There’s fire in the lightweight division as Wandera, who represented the national team in the Men’s World Championships in Dubai, will use every trick in the book to protect his territory.
Since he started boxing in 2011 at Kibra Olympic Club under coach Hassan Salim, and later handled by 1994 Commonwealth Games heavyweight champion Ahmed Omar aka Kasongo, Wandera has gained considerable experience but Omolo and Ben Juma are not shaken. They want to topple Wandera who lost in the round of 16 during the World Championships in Dubai to Latvia’s Matvejs Prokudunis. Earlier, Wandera put up a superb show in outpointing Uganda’s Fahad Mulindwa in the round of 32.
In the 2025 Kenya Open at Charter Hall, Wandera controversially lost in the finals to Ethan Maina of Police. Maina, a product of popular Mbotela coach Raphael “Kamwana” Kamuya, has now moved up to light-welterweight.
Omolo learned his trade at Umoja Boxing Club under coach Mike Mungai, a former boxer, while Juma was at Kasarani Boxing Club handled by Ian “Major” Otieno before moving to Kasarani Youth.
After the departure of Nick “Commander” Okoth, there’s no lightweight who has shown an indication of emulating him. Maybe either the two youthful boxers might succeed but only if they get past the battle-hardened KDF soldier.
