▪️National Kenya Open Championships explodes into action with 134 boxers – 113 men and 21 women – from 18 teams battling it out for personal and team glory
▪️Jakababa moves up to cruiserweight and will not meet rival Robert Okaka who has beaten him five times
April 1, 2026
The ring is set and the gloves are laced as Kenya’s upcoming and established boxers trade leather in the National Kenya Open Boxing Championships at the Kaloleni Social Hall, Nairobi, from 3pm today, April 1, 2026.
The one million dollar question remains: which team will end the domination of defending Open champions Kenya Police and KDF, placed second overall in the 2025 Kenya Open at Charter Hall.
The two service teams have dominated boxing in Kenya for over a decade since the demise of top clubs such as Breweries, Posta, Railways and Kenya Ports Authority.
Among the international boxers taking part are Africa Zone 3 minimum champion Silus Onyango, flyweight Emmanuel Chondo, Shaffi Bakari, Dennis Muthama, World Championships quarter-finalist Robert “Man Man Ngori” Okaka, African Games champion Edwin Okong’o, Zone 3 silver medallist Mwinyi Kombo, Washington Wandera and fast-rising boxing brothers, Chris Juma and Benedict Juma.
The 18 teams taking part are Police, KDF, Prisons, Lamu, Homa Bay, Nairobi, Kibra,Kajiado, Meru, Dallas, Sombea, Kisumu, G44, Kiambu, Nakuru,Laikipia, Mombasa and Kasarani Youth.
In women’s category, some of the top boxers in action include Africa Zone 3 champions Veronica Mbithe and her KDF teammate Friza Asiko.
Mbithe has received a bye to the flyweight finals, awaiting the winner of the semis bout between Nairobi’s Lencer Akinyi and Dora Mcharo. Friza meets Nakuru’s Winnie Shisali in the semis on Friday.
Shaffi, Kombo, Wandera, Aloice Vincent and Alvin Oduor and Edwin Okong’o have received byes to the quarters and will not be in action until on Thursday.
Bantamweight Muthama steps into the ring today against Eric Odicho of Sombea while at feather Chris Juma of Kasarani Youth opens his account against Kisumu’s Frank Omondi with his elder brother Ben Juma meeting Fidel Okoth of Nairobi B.
Robert Okaka will fight on Friday in the semis against Lazaro Odote of Mombasa, and Jakaba in Thursday’s quarters against Mohamed Hassan of Mombasa at cruiserweight.
