MBITHE IS NOW A CORPORAL!
Kenya’s first-ever female boxer to join the defence forces Veronica Mbithe has been promoted to the rank of a Corporal.
The boxer, who was recruited by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in March 2018, is over the moon following her latest achievement.
“It’s a great feeling, I’m so happy for the progress, and also proud of my association with boxing I’m now reaping the fruits of my labour,” says the 28-year-old charming Mbithe who has also made history as the first Kenyan female boxer to be promoted to the rank of a Corporal.
“I’m excited and proud to be in the military they’ve taken good care of me and encouraged me on my career progression by taking various courses apart from representing them in boxing.”
Boxing Inspiration:
Mbithe attributes her achievement at work to boxing. “Through boxing, I now have a job, and I’m now a Corporal,” says Mbithe, adding: “Boxing has empowered me greatly not forgetting changing my family’s life, it also has opened other avenues and channels, I urge other female boxers to work hard and be patient to make it in life.”
Whom does Mbithe single out for her success in boxing and the military?
“My success is not just pegged on one person but several notably Colonel Paul Mungori who gave us women a chance in the KDF boxing team, secondly coach Charles Mukula who taught me boxing straight after high school at Dallas Boxing Club in Muthurwa Estate, I still visit Mukula at Dallas to train with him and encourage boxers at my former club. I can’t forget my roots, Mukula made me what I am today in boxing.”
In addition to Mbithe, the other female boxers in KDF are featherweight Pauline Chege, welterweight Frizer Anyango and middleweight Agnes Wambua. Pauline and Frizer have represented the national team in various international tournaments.
Tough Choices:
Fortune struck Mbithe in 2018 when she qualified to represent the national team in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia and at the same time landed a job at KDF.
For some time, Mbithe was undecided on whether to take up the job or travel with the Kenya team to the Gold Coast.
“I got my employment letter when we were in Nakuru for the Gold Coast camp,” recalls Mbithe who started learning boxing in 2014 in Dallas and received her first call-up to the national team in the same year.
“Honestly I was confused, do I go to Gold Coast or the military training but after consulting my team mates, coaches and my mum I opted for the job as I reflected on my future.”
After seven months of training in Eldoret, Mbithe became a professional soldier.
“The training was so difficult but I persevered, my training in boxing also helped me a lot, I’m now a soldier and I can even handle a gun.”
Boxing Career:
Mbithe’s decision to involve herself with boxing in 2014 did not go down well with her mother, Eunice Nziva, who operates a salon business in Muthurwa Estate.
“I was very much against Mbithe engaging in the sport because I had seen several boxers going nowhere so I felt it was a waste of time,” says Nziva. “What annoyed me is that I was forced to use my meager resources to assist her in boxing severally.”
Despite her mother’s objection, Mbithe did not relent in her pursuit of success through boxing.
“Imagine one day my mum even hid my training kit just to discourage me,” says Mbithe who was at a loss as to why her mother was against her involvement with boxing.
Mbithe wanted to emulate former World Boxing Council (WBC) world super bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika and former international Rebah Matanda who later joined the Administration Police and later immigrated to Sweden.
With her mum still pushing her to abandon boxing, Mbithe sought the assistance of Dallas coach Charles Mukula.
“As a coach, this is a problem I encounter often with parents against their daughters doing boxing, some say they’ll become big-headed and others fear early pregnancies,” explains Mukula.
“I had to visit Mbithe’s mother at her house in Landi Mawe to convince her of the importance of her daughter becoming a boxer, one of the benefits I told her is defending herself when attacked and getting a job, she reluctantly accepted.”
Nziva’s negative attitude towards boxing changed when her daughter landed the KDF job, and now she says her life has changed for the better.
Positive Vibes:
“Since my daughter was employed by KDF our life has changed, she has done a lot for me including uplifting my salon business,” says a jovial Nziva.
“Now she has even been promoted. We thank God because Mbithe is assisting me in educating her young siblings. I’ve realized she was not doing boxing in vain. I appeal to other parents not to stop their daughters from getting into the sport.”
Equally proud of Mbithe’s progress is the vice-chairman of the KDF boxing team Colonel Paul Mungori.”That’s a big leap ahead for Mbithe we’re all enthralled by her success,” says Mungori.
“Once the boxers join us, I ensure they attend career progression courses and exploit their talent in the ring. This ensures they have a smooth transition when they go back to the units as they easily fit in due to skills adequacy. Mbithe is the pioneer lady boxer to be employed in line with KDF policy of gender mainstreaming.”
Future Aspirations:
Mbithe’s next step is to become a Sergeant and represent Kenya in major international tournaments such as the African Games and Commonwealth Games.
What’s her advice to female boxers still at the grassroots?
“Be disciplined in training and always go an extra mile in the gym you’ll make it,” says Mbithe, an alumnus of C.G.H.U Primary and Gaturi Girls Secondary schools.
