▪️KDF soldiers are reportedly “digging trenches at night” near Charter Hall preparing for the ambush and will use every arsenal at their disposal to win the National Open Championships.
March 25, 2026
The 2026 Kenyan boxing scene is set to explode with the continuation of one of the country’s most intense boxing rivalries between the Kenya Police aka “Chafua Chafua” and the Kenya Defence Forces.
A dramatic 2025 season saw Kenya Police reclaim the national league title and won the National Open Championships as well.
This year’s National Open, scheduled for Charter Hall from April 1-4, is therefore poised to be a high-stakes battle of power, technique, and pride.
Known for their aggressive boxing, “Chafua Chafua” will be looking to prove that their 2025 win was the start of a new dynasty while the challengers, KDF, will capitalise on their tactical proficiency, rapid adaptation and a never-say-die attitude.
Christened Operation Tame Chafua Chafua, KDF are using their skills in the battlefront to plot a well executed attack to flatten Police.
After narrowly losing the 2025 open title, KDF are expected to bring fierce competition to the 2026 National Open showdown to regain the title and pride to their comrades in the barracks.
Police won the overall National Open 2025 title with 24 points, KDF second on 23 and third-placed Prisons 11, Nairobi and Siaya a jointly fourth with 9 points, Kibra 6, Kisumu 4, Kongowea and Nakuru 2 each.
KDF will heavily rely on their women’s team which topped in the 2025 Open Championships with 7 points followed closely by Siaya on 6, Police and Kibra 3 each. Police’s only female boxer is African Games bantamweight bronze medallist Amina Martha.
Police however had an edge over KDF in men’s category winning on 21 points with KDF amassing 16 points to finish second. The 7 points from their women’s team shot them up to 23, almost toppling Police.
Among the key rivalries include bantamweight Dennis Muthama (KDF) vs Shaffi Bakari (Police), lightweight southpaw Emmanuel Omolo vs soldier Washington Wandera, African Games middleweight champion Edwin Okong’o vs cop George Cosby and world light-heavyweight quarter-finalist soldier Robert Okaka vs Humphrey Ochieng with “Man Man Ngori” enjoying five consecutive wins over Jakababa.
The lawmakers will miss the services of their promising flyweight Diouf Muimi who has been employed by KDF together with Nairobi County boxers, flyweight Faith Nafuna and Sheila Auma. They are still undergoing training in Eldoret.
New Police recruits, all Zone 3 bronze medallists, featherweight Paul “Pacman” Omondi, light-welterweight Caleb Wandera and welterweight Wiseman Kavondo will also miss the action as they’re still at Kiganjo Police Training College.
