▪️Promising Elvis Lincoln puts on standout performance in the finals outpointing gutsy Kisumu’s Joshua Onyango at welterweight
▪️Nairobi continue dominating National Novices Tournament. Since BFK ascended to power in 2019 Nairobi has remained on top in this beginners event
Upcoming boxers from various counties displayed impressive performances in the Boxing Federation of Kenya National Novices Championships which ended on Saturday, Feb 7, 2026, at the Green Park Terminus Hall.
The novices is a tournament for beginners used as a pathway to the intermediate level. The successful boxers then move up to the Kenya Open Championships in which the graduates meet seasoned internationals to fight it our for national honours. Some of them eventually make it to the national team.
After the national novices championships, BFK’s county affiliates will now stage their intermediate championships followed by the nationals on February 26-28 in Thika and the Kenya Open from March 12-14 at Nairobi’s Charter Hall.
Once again Nairobi won the national novices championships, maintaining a firm grip on the overall title since 2019 when Boxing Federation of Kenya executive ascended to power.
Nairobi finished on top with 17 points followed by Kisumu nine points, Kiambu and Mombasa joint third with three points each.
Kajiado, Nakuru, Kilifi and Lamu were joint fourth on two points each, Migori fifth with one point while Machakos, Taita-Taveta, Homabay and Laikipia counties finished as wooden spoonists without a single point.
Kisumu moved up to the second position having placed third in the 2025 National Novices Championships.
A delighted head coach of Kisumu County Boxing Association Vincent Odongo praised his boxers and team of coaches for this remarkable improvement.
“I take this opportunity to thank my fellow coaches of Kisumu County and the boxers for the wonderful job they’ve done,” Odongo told boxersworld.co.ke
“Big up to my coaches Dominic Opiyo, Simon Wasuna, Charles Ayoma, Hongo Kauma, Olivety and my twin brother Victor Opiyo for a great job they did untill the end of the game.
“We are so proud taking number two position position. We’re now focused on maintaining our form in the National Intermediate Championships at the end of this month to dethrone Nairobi.
Odongo has once again appealed to Kisumu County to support them ahead of the National Intermediate Championships in Thika.
“I’m just praying for our Kisumu County leadership to support us financially because it’s not easy without their financial backing, we’re really trying our best to lift our Kisumu County. I also thank BFK President Anthony Otieno “Jamal” and his entire executive for their tireless efforts to develop boxing with limited resources.”
By finishing on top again, Nairobi reinforced its status as the Mecca of boxing in Kenya, producing the bulk of boxers to the national team with KDF and Police recruiting most of their boxers from Nairobi clubs.
It therefore came as no surprise Nairobi led with standout performances from welterweight Elvis Lincoln, female welterweight Clare Okwaluma, Nairobi Novices flyweight champion Ken Muhindi and minimumweight Abdi Mohammed.
Lincoln, handled by Ruaraka Youth Club’s head coach Benjamin Musyoka, put on the most impressive show in the finals outpointing a determined and gutsy Joshua Onyango of Kisumu by a close 2-1 decision. It was a toe-to-toe battle with Lincoln always carrying the fight to his opponent his punches mostly aimed at Onyango’s head. Both boxers got one standing count of eight each in the third round.
The 19-year-old Lincoln started boxing in 2023 while still a form two student at Githima High School in Kiambu.
“With so much determination, resilience and steady progress Lincoln is definitely a boxer to watch,” said his coach Musyoka otherwise known as Benja in the boxing fraternity.
“We at Ruaraka Youth are proud of Lincoln’s progress. His eagerness to learn, discipline and passion for boxing will take him places.”
On his ambition in boxing, Lincoln said he wants to land a job in the Kenya Defence Forces.
Okwaluma, coached by the doyen of female boxing in East Africa Liz Andiego, was in devastating form needing only 42 seconds to stop Nakuru’s Winnie Shisiali in the first round of the welterweight bout.
Okwaluma, 21, trains at Kayole Rapid under coach Andiego.
“My aim is to represent Kenya in this year’s Commonwealth Games,” Okwaluma told boxersworld.co.ke.
At flyweight, Nairobi’s Ken Muhindi maintained his steady rise by clinching the national novices title, stopping Nakuru’s Enock Wambua in the third round while in the minimum division Kibra’s Abdi Mohammed gave Nairobi “A” a winning start showing flashes of brilliance enroute to a 2-1 points victory over Ambrose Junior of Nairobi “B”.
Full results
Minimumweight
Abdi Mohammed (Nairobi A) outpointed Ambrose Junior (Nairobi B)
Flyweight
Ken Muhindi (Nairobi A) stopped Enock Wambua (Nakuru B) in the third round
Bantamweight
Reuben Oketch (Kisumu) outpointed Beakey Kamande (Kiambu)
Featherweight
Roley Otieno (Lamu) outpointed Edwin Ochieng (Mombasa)
Ladies flyweight
Mary Anyango (Nairobi) stopped Christine Otochi (Kakamega) in the first round
Ladies light-welterweight
Maryann Onyango (Kisumu) outpointed Nehema Kwemoi (Nairobi)
Lightweight
Nick Vidal (Kisumu) outpointed Brian Mwangi (Nairobi)
Light-welterweight
Abdullah Juma (Mombasa) outpointed Vincent Ochieng (Migori)
Welterweight
Elvis Lincoln (Nairobi A) outpointed Joshua Onyango (Kisumu)
Ladies light-welterweight
Josephine Adhiambo (Kisumu) stopped Sylvia Oluoch (Kakamega) in the second round
Ladies welterweight
Clare Okwaluma (Nairobi) stopped Winnie Shisiali (Nakuru B) in the first round
Light-middleweight
Mumina Mathew (Nairobi B) outpointed Ian Gitonga (Kilifi)
Middleweight
Zackery Maeya (Nairobi B) outpointed Mansur Adam (Nairobi A)
Light-heavyweight
Bradley Ochieng (Nairobi) outpointed Austin Ogutu (Kilifi)
Cruiserweight
John Liech (Kajiado) outpointed Emmanuel Odhiambo (Kisumu)
Heavyweight
Brian Miraj (Nairobi) beat Geoffrey Ayako (Kiambu) disqualified
Super-heavyweight
Abdi Ali (Nairobi A) outpointed Henry Oketch (Kisumu)
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