NOORDINNE TAIB BLASTS GOVT FOR SIDESTEPPING IKHONI’S BURIAL
▪️ The Kenyan star boxer was buried on Saturday July 19 without any ministry official in attendance.
Kenya’s celebrated Isaiah Ikhoni is the latest boxer to be given the cold shoulder by the Kenyan government in his hour of need.
The late Ikhoni was buried today, July 19, 2025, in the compound of his Ongata Rongai house in Kajiado County. There was no ministry official present at the burial.
Prominent grassroots boxing contributor in Kibra and Kajiado, Noordinne Taib, unleashed a barrage of punches at the government wondering why they favour athletes and look down upon boxers.
Yet at the global and continental level the Kenyan boxers, like the athletes, have also held their own by winning medals in the Olympic Games and other major tournaments.
“They only show interest when the boxers bring Kenya glory rushing to the airport to meet and pose for pictures with them to satisfy their selfish egos but the truth is they have no interest in boxing,” a furious Taib – a former MCA – told mourners during the burial.
“Ikhoni is a big name in Kenya boxing, he deserves respect and recognition, he won gold medals in the Golden Cup, King’s Cup and Presidents Cup in Manila and later turned pro in Japan but today they’ve all abandoned him. Shame on them.”
Taib cited the death of legendary boxer Philip Waruinge who was also ignored by the government with none of them attending his burial in Nakuru but shortly later Sports CS Ababu Namwamba was visibly present in the burial of Kiprugut Chumo, the first Kenyan to win an Olympic medal.
“What’s the difference between Waruinge and Kiprugut? Infact Waruinge did better than the athlete,” said Taib.
The ministry in charge of sports was notified about Ikhoni’s death but remained aloof without even issuing a condolence message.
In addition to Ikhoni and Waruinge, among other late top boxers who have been ignored by the government include 1972 Olympic bronze medallist Dick “Tiger” Murunga, John Nderu, Kamau Mbugua, Napunyi Oduori and Patrick Lumumba.
Ikhoni died on July 10, 2025, after collapsing in his house in Ongata Rongai.
