▪️Humphrey Ochieng aka Jakababa sends early warning shots to rival KDF’s Robert Okaka “Man-Man Ngori” ahead of the Kenya Open from April 1-4 at Nairobi’s Charter Hall.
“This is a new season, let him expect my punch known as “Ngunyo” it will drowse him,” thundered the Police Zone 3 silver medallist
▪️Newcomer southpaw Emmanuel Omolo reminds KDF’s international Washington Wandera he wants to take over the lightweight division.
“It’s going to be fire nare nare”,” says the Umoja One Gym product.
March 3, 2026
As national team deputy head coach David Munuhe held pads for the doyen of female boxing in East Africa, Liz Andiego ma-ish!ish!, Africa light-middleweight champion Boniface “The Hammer” Mogunde led Police in an intensive training session at Mathare Depot Gym in Nairobi on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
From the ringside, senior coach James Wasao watched promising 19-year-old Emmanuel Omolo engage Amina Martha to a hard sparring session, keeping Amina at bay with his long range southpaw jab but the African Games bantamweight bronze medallist would time and again slide in for close-quarter combinations in her usual pressure fighting style.
In the ring there’s former boxer David Opiyo playing the double role of a referee and a coach as former international Martin Oduor records the sparring for analysis later.
Earlier, African and Zone 3 light-middleweight champion Boniface Mogunde battled Zone 3 light-heavyweight silver medallist Humphrey Ochieng aka Jakababa in a fast-moving sparring session, the heavier Ochieng releasing bombs to condition Mogunde for big-punching opponents.
Africa super-heavyweight silver medallist Clinton Macharia was also in the house, sharpening his skills to avoid what happened in the 2025 Kenya Open at Charter Hall when out of the blue he was KO’d by Prisons hard-hitting Jasper Sagai in the first round.
“It was just a lucky punch but I’ve rectified my mistakes,” Macharia told boxersworld.co.ke
Humphrey Ochieng is charged for the Kenya Open scheduled for April 1-4 at Charter Hall, well aware that he has now lost five times in a row to his rival, World Championships quarter-finalist Robert Okaka aka Man Man Ngori of KDF.
“This is a fresh season, I have a new punch for him called Ngunyo. He will feel the weight,” said Jakababa.
“No matter what he does to avoid the punch it will land on him, it comes in a zig zag manner.”
Southpaw lightweight Emmanuel Omolo singles out KDF’s Washington Wandera as the only stumbling block to his burning ambition to be in the national team.
“I beat Wandera in the league last year, he’s a good boxer whom I respect and a friend too but once in the ring that friendship ends,” said Omolo who started boxing in 2022 at Umoja One Gym under coach Mike Mungai, fondly referred to as Munga in the boxing fraternity.
By then Omolo was a form two student at Kamukunji Secondary School in Nairobi.
“None of the top boxers scare me, I’ve also beaten another international Caleb Wandera, I believe in myself.”
“He’s a very good boxer, I can see him dominating lightweight soon,” said Police coach James Wasao.
Police emerged overall winners with 24 points closely followed by KDF 23, Prisons 11, Nairobi and Siaya jointly fourth with 9, Kibra 6, Kisumu 4, Kongowea and Nakuru 2 each.
Police are the defending Kenya Open champions. In the 2025 Kenya Open, Police won the men’s category on 21pts, KDF 16, Prisons 11, Nairobi 7, Siaya and Kibra 3 each, Kisumu, Kongowea and Nakuru 2 each.
In women’s category, KDF topped with 7 points, Siaya 6, Police and Kibra 3 each, Kisumu, Nairobi and Meru 2 each.
Meanwhile Liz Andiego has resumed training for her pro debut, and was under the close eye of national team deputy head coach David Munuhe.
Andiego was due to make her debut against Tanzania’s Christina Raura on February 27, 2026, but she pulled out at the last minute.
“I think she just got scared of me because I would have really punished her,” said Andiego as she huffed and puffed punching pads.
Munuhe is also with head coach Musa Benjamin handling Kenya’s U19 team heading to Bangkok, Thailand, for the Futures Cup from March 8-15.
They leave on Friday with Africa Youth light-welterweight bronze medallist Sonia Atieno, Ellah Demesi, Phelix Ochieng and Bryan Arianda. The Bangkok tournament will be a qualifier for the Youth Olympics to be held in Africa for the first time from October 31 to November 13, 2026, in Dakar, Senegal.
