Rising African giant Hilal “The Tornado” Mohamed escorted by coach Abdalla Feiswal Abdallah aka Dula in a past competition▪️Hilal Mohamed aka The Tornado has taken Kenya’s boxing by storm and proved he’s one of Africa’s Emerging Stars in the squared circle.
▪️The meteoric rise of Hilal and other promising junior boxers in Lamu is part of a broader “Ndondi Mashindani” initiative introduced by Boxing Federation of Kenya

In the winding, narrow streets of Lamu Old Town, where the scent of roasting cloves gels with the salty breeze of the Indian Ocean, one of Kenya’s talented junior boxers, Hilal “The Tornado” Mohamed, is gently knocking on the doors to boxing stardom.

Growing up amidst the silent, carved doors and sandy pathways of Lamu, Hilal’s boxing journey has so far been nothing but phenomenal.

Within a short span of two years, the 15-year-old grade seven student at Lamu Boys Junior Secondary School, has signalled his intention to rise to the top, emerging a four-weight winner in various tournaments. This is indeed a testament of his innate potential in the four-squared circle.

It all started in 2024 in Tanga, Tanzania, where Hilal, representing a combined team from Mombasa, beat Tanga’s Ramadhan Salim in the 32-34 kg category. The following year 2025 Hilal outpointed Lawrence Kirima of Mukuru Fight-4-Life Club in the finals of a junior tournament in Nairobi 34-36kg.

Hilal’s juggernaut continued unabated. In one of his most difficult fights, Hilal outpointed the tough Alvin Otieno of Kibra Olympics in the national junior championships finals 37-40 kg at the Green Park Terminus Hall. He maintained his unbeaten run the same year in December during the Coastal Region Championships finals 41-44 kg, rounding up the year by outpointing Hamisi Peter at Mama Ngina Waterfront.

Hilal’s style is as unique as his birthplace. He fights with the speed of a dhow boat catching the wind and the defensive prowess of a man used to maneuvering through tight spaces of Lamu. Available records provided by Hilal’s coach, Abdallah Feiswal Abdallah aka Dula, show he’s unbeaten in 12 competitive bouts.

“Hilal is unstoppable as of now, he has really impressed me with his consistency,” coach Abdallah told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview.

Abdallah is so inspired by the performances of Hilal and other boxers in his club who have excelled beyond his expectations as the founder of Lamu Boxing Club. He introduced boxing in 2023 when his uncle Soud Hussein – now based in Nottingham Forest in England – gave him a piece of land at Peace Villa to establish a boxing training venue. That marked the birth of Lamu Boxing Club.

“Actually by 2022 there was no boxing in lamu,” recalls Abdalla, “so I introduced boxing in 2023, then in 2024 my uncle Soud gave me the land to construct a good spacious place for my club. The previous gym where we were training was unhygienic. In 2025 Hero Boxing Club was opened, which now makes it two boxing clubs in Lamu.

“As a coach I will say my boxer Hilal is energetic with unique footwork that gives him an advantage over his opponents and confidence, he has that champion vibe in him.

“What we’re lacking is good sparring partners from different gyms but the junior tournaments, though few, help him a lot fighting boxers outside Lamu.”

The open air Lamu Boxing Club training venue has two punch bags, one speed ball, two pairs of sparring gloves and three skipping ropes.

Abdallah is very grateful for the support he has received from Ace Standard and Mombasa Cement.

“I thank them a lot, without the support of Ace Standard and Mombasa Cement, I would not have managed to set up the club on my own.

“It was not an easy job clearing the bushy farm and mounting a ring and poles to hang the punch bags and cementing the floor. The club is about 3km from Lamu town, this gives the boxers nice space for roadwork when going and coming from training.”

Abdallah’s objective of introducing boxing was to keep away the youth from abusing drugs, a habit prevalent in Kenya’s Coast Region. So far the club has 10 boxers.

In addition to Hilal, other prominent juniors in Lamu Boxing Club are Ali Ahmed, Mohamed Samson and Athman Omar.

Hilal and Ali Ahmed were in 2025 included in the national team for the inaugural African School Games in Algiers, Algeria but they did not make it because of a delay in the issuance of passports. Ali was also in Tanga for the Mombasa Combined vs Tanga contests, winning all his fights and was runners-up in the 2025 National Junior Championships.

An employee of Lamu County Government, Abdallah is thankful for the county’s support and appeals for more well wishers to assist him in this worthy cause of keeping the youth away from drugs and engaging in criminal activities.

Abdallah recalls how Hilal was hooked to boxing in 2024 when he accompanied his best friend Ali Mohamed for a training session.

“I remember seeing Hilal for the first time in early April, 2024, he came to watch his friend Ali Mohamed train at our club after the schools were closed. On the third day Hilal fell in love with boxing and started training with Ali.

“After sometime, I told Hilal to put on his gloves for a sparring session with Ali. Unable to persevere Ali’s constant punches Hilali cried from the pain of the punches but gradually he got used to it.

“Ali Ahmed is among the best boxers in my club. He was selected to represent Mombasa Combined against Tanga in Tanzania together with Hilal. Mohamed Samson is also a good boxer. He joined the club after Hilal and Ali, and has won fights in national juniors and in the Kenya vs Uganda game in Kampala last year.”

Abdallah narrates some of the challenges facing grassroots coaches in Africa.

“It’s not an easy task to be a grassroots coach in Kenya. You spend a lot of money. I have to cater for their transportation costs during training and when travelling to take part in the competitions I pay for their accommodation and food. If you have no money of your own you cannot manage.”

Abdallah is however satisfied Hila and teammates have not let him down by excelling in the junior tournaments, encouraging him to work harder to buy more equipment for his club.

Lamu Boxing Club has now become a hub for local youth, providing a structured outlet for discipline and hope in a region where economic opportunities are limited.

The success of Hilal and his teammates is part of a broader “Ndondi Mashinani” (Grassroots Boxing) movement initiated by the Boxing Federation of Kenya and being spread in the Coastal Region by BFK’s g toaffiliates. This initiative aims to nurture talent far from the capital city Nairobi, ensuring that the next generation of “Hit Squad” (Kenya’s national team) members includes more boxers from the Coast Region.

For the people of Lamu, Hilal represents more than just a fighter; he is a symbol of how the island’s youth can transition from the laid-back Swahili
culture and life style into boxing champions, mirroring the journey of other Coastal star boxers such as Shaffi Bakari and Mwinyi Kombo who are in Kenya’s elite national team.

Hilal’s parents, father Mohamed Omar Shee and mum Nyamwenye Iddarus Said, are so mesmerized by his rapid rise. As Omar gazes at the silent Indian Ocean waters with boats transporting locals to various destinations, he thanks the Almighty Allah for guiding and protecting their son.

“We’re very happy with our son’s fast rise in boxing, we pray for his success every day. We want to see him at the top to represent the people of Lamu and Kenya as a whole,” says Omar.

“His interest in boxing and karate started when he was four years, the introduction of boxing in Lamu enabled him realise his dream. He started attending training at Lamu Boxing Club, he also used to play football like many other kids in Lamu but his interest was more in the combat sports.

“Hilal is the fifth born in my family of six children. The first born is Leila Mohamed followed by Rukia, Amina, Omar and last born is Mahmud.”

From the foregoing, there’s no doubt boxing is experiencing a gradual but steady rise in popularity in Kenya’s sleepy and slow-paced Lamu County, which borders and shares a land boundary with Somalia to the northeast.

Lamu is characterized by its traditionally Swahili culture, narrow streets with no cars. Donkeys and boats have been their main mode of transport until 2021 when motorbikes joined the fray to the chagrin of some residents who detest noise.

For all its laid-back life style, boxing has now entrenched itself in Lamu, thanks to pioneer Abdulla Feiswal Abdulla who will always be remembered for introducing the sport in Lamu.

Meet Hilal Mohamed “The Tornado”

Club: Lamu Boxing Club

Age: 15 years

Stance: Both orthodox and
southpaw

School: Lamu Boys Junior Secondary

Ambition: To become a world champion

Boxing idol:
Prince Naseem Hamed

Titles won:
2024
1: Tanzania 32-34 kg winner

2025
2: Nairobi junior championship winner (April)35-36kg

3: National championship winner (August)37-40 kg
4: coast Inter-Counties winner (Dec) 41-44kg

When and where he started boxing: I started boxing at Lamu Boxing Club in 2023

First coach and how he has benefitted: Coach Dula is my only coach and I have learnt many things inside and outside the ring from him. He’s like my teacher.

Toughest opponent: Alvin Otieno from Kibra Olympics

Most memorable win: National juniors final vs Alvin Otieno

Boxing challenges in Lamu:
1. Traveling cost to national games
2. Lack of sparring partners

Hobbies:
1. Boxing
2. Swimming
3. Football

Favorite food: Biryani, pilau and coconut fish

▪️His standout show made Kenya’s national boxing team head coach Musa Benjamin to sit up and take notice

A grade 10 student at Githurai High School, Ken Muindi, was the most outstanding boxer in the three-day Nairobi Novices Tournament which ended on Saturday, January 24, at Umoja Gym.

The 17-year-old Muindi, representing Githurai Thailand Club, won the flyweight title with a dominant points win over Isaac Pastor of Kibera Olympic.

He put up a remarkable performance, displaying polished offensive and defensive skills, tact, speed and composure to announce his arrival in Kenya’s boxing scene.

The novices is normally a tournament for beginners to test the waters in this combat sport but Muindi’s maturity in the game belied his status as a beginner.

So impressed was Kenya’s national team head coach Musa Benjamin that he also singled out Muindi as the standout performer.

“The boy is good he’s definitely national team material if he remains consistent,” Musa told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview at the Umoja Gym.

Musa further shared his analysis on Muindi’s qualities.

“He’s got perfect physical and technical qualities to become a top boxer, good balance, proper stance, tight guard and clean punches.

“He also has nice punch varieties, jabs, body shots and effective combinations. Muindi is also composed under pressure and has the right mental and psychological attributes of a champion.”

Muindi started boxing in 2023 at the Githurai Thailand Boxing Club under the tutelage of renowned grassroots coach John “Chea” Ochieng.

“This is my first time to take part in the novices tournament I’m so happy winning the Nairobi title,” said Muindi.

“I’m now looking forward to the national novices championships to fight opponents from other parts of the country.”

The National Novices Tournament is scheduled for Nairobi from from February 5-7.

If Muindi wins the national novices title he graduates to the intermediate level whose nationals are on February 26-28 in Thika.

Muindi singles out compatriot, Africa Zone 3 welterweight bronze medallist Wiseman Kavondo, as his favourite boxer in Kenya.

“He’s a clever boxer not a fighter and is also stylish, that’s my style I prefer to box clean with a variety of punches,” Muindi told boxersworld.co.ke

At the world level, Muindi’s idol is Russia’s WBA, IBO, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (24-1-0, 12 KOs).

“Bivol is a clean and intelligent boxer I like how he fights.”

For now Muindi’s burning ambition is to represent the national team, a goal his contact coach John Ochieng agrees is achievable.

“Muindi is very much capable of being in the Kenya team, he’s a disciplined boxer, since he joined Githurai Thailand Club he has never misbehaved, he’s a good boxer and unpredictable in the ring, you can’t know what he’s up to,” said Ochieng who took over the club in 2008 after the former coach Norton Mwaura started Kahawa Club.

“Githurai Thailand started in 1998 when Mwaura was our head coach, several outstanding boxers including internationals Kevin Maina, Friza Asilo and Faith Nafuna are my products, infact when Friza was recruited by KDF she was my boxer.”

*Overall positions in the Nairobi County Novices Tournament*

1.Kibra Olympics -14pts.
2.Kasarani youth -13pts.
3.Thailand -13pts
4.Uhuru Boxing Club-10pts.
5.Githurai 44- 6pts.
6.Mathare North -6pts
7.Jericho -6pts
8.Kariobangi -5pts
9.Kahawa -5pts
10.Kibra youth -4pts
11.Box girls -13pts
12.Queen of Peace- 2pts
13.Lumumba Bare knuckles -2pts
14.Kaloleni -2pts
15.Mbotela -2pts
16.Umoja -2pts
17.St. Teresa’s -1pts
18.Kayole Rapid -1pts
19.N.C.C. -1pts
20.Jet MAB -1pts
21.Kangemi -0pts
22.Lumumba B.C.-0pts
23.Mecca -0pts.

Nairobi Novices Championship Finalsl results

MINIMUMWEIGHT ;
Abdi Mohammed (Thailand) beat Ambrose Junior (Kariobangi) pts.

FLYWEIGHT
Ladies
Rehema Hamed (Thailand) lost to Mary Anyango (Boxgirls) RSC 1
Men ;

Kennedy Muindi (Githurai Thailand) defeated Isaac Pastor (Kibra Olympics) pts.

BANTAMWEIGHT
Michael Mwendwa (Thailand) lost to Allan Muhavi (Uhuru) RSC

FEATHERWEIGHT
Ezra Nelly (Thailand) outpointed Derrick Muthoga (Kahawa)

LIGHTWEIGHT
Ladies
Doreen Kitui (G44) beat Blessing Chemui(Kangemi) via w/o.
Men
Brian Mwangi (Githurai Thailand) lost to Dennis Blacks (Kahawa) opts.

LIGHT-WELTERWEIGHT
Eugene Omondi (Mbotela) lost to Kevin Juma (Kasarani Youth) pts

WELTERWEIGHT
Ladies
Rehema Hassan (Kibra Olympics) lost to Joyce Nyaga(Jericho) pts
Men
Elvis Lincoln (Kasarani Youth) defeated Edward Mugambi (Kaloleni) pts

LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHT
Mathew Mumina (Uhuru) beat Reegan Ricky (Kibra Olympics) RSC 1

MIDDLEWEIGHT
Adam Manssuh (Kibra Olympics) beat Morrison Manyasa (Lumumba) RSC 2

LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT
Denis Faret (Kasarani Youth) lost to Branel Ochieng (Jericho) pts

CRUISERWEIGHT
Moses Otieno (Kibra Olympics) lost to Isaac Eboyi (Uhuru) on disqualification
KEN MUINDI STAR PERFORMER IN NAIROBI NOVICES TOURNAMENT

HEAVYWEIGHT
Luaman Bashir (Queen of Peace) lost to Brian Mirage (Kibra Youth) RSC 2
SUPER-HEAVYWEIGHT
James Mwangi (Kariobangi) lost to Abulahi Ali (Kasarani Youth) RSC 3

SUPERVISOR
Maurice “Kawata” Maina.

ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR
Sosman Okungu.

DOCTOR
Boniface Oyieko.

▪️She passed her certification course held concurrently with the 2025 Africa Zone 3 Boxing Championships in Nairobi 

Botswana’s Lone Wame Batsalelwang is over the moon.

She’s so excited and thrilled to become the first ever female in Zone 4 to attain Star-3 status, the highest grade in boxing officiating.

Zone 4 comprises 14-member countries namely Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Comoros.

Lone sat for her exams during the IBA Star-3 certification course held concurrently with the 2025 Africa Zone 3 Boxing Championships in Kenya’s capital city Nairobi.

“I’m absolutely thrilled and humbled to be the first female Star 3 in Zone 4,” Lone told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview from Botswana.

“It’s a huge honour and a testament to the support I’ve received from my team and mentors. I’m proud to be breaking barriers and paving the way for other women in officiating. The journey’s been challenging, but moments like these make it all worth it.”

The calm and quiet Lone cannot wait to officiate in the IBA World Championships, the most prestigious boxing tournament on earth.

“This will be a dream come true, I’ve really been yearning to officiate in this big event, to me it’ll be like landing on the moon.”

Lone further narrates how the boxing bug caught up with her.

“Wow, it’s been an incredible journey! I’ve been involved in boxing for about 22 years now, and it’s been a wild ride.

“I actually started as a fan, watching matches with my dad, and I was fascinated by the skill and strength of the boxers. What drew me in was the combination of physicality and mental toughness required in the sport. I wasn’t a boxer myself. Now, I’m stoked to be an official, giving back to the sport I love.”

Here’s Lone’s journey as a referee/judge

2005: National Certificate

2013 : IBA Star 1 Course Botswana Gaborone

2018 : Nelson Mandela Boxing Championship 4 Nations Cup, East London (South Africa)

2018 : AUSC Youth Games Gaborone

Botswana

2019: Zone 4 Boxing Championships, Botswana Gaborone at Botho University

2021: AUSC Youth Games Lesotho Maseru

2025: Zone 4 Boxing Championships in Maputo Mozambique Star 2 IBA course

2025: Zone 3 Championships, Nairobi Kenya, Star 3 IBA Course. Now Certified IBA Star 3 R/J

2025: Africa Youth Games Luanda Angola 🇦🇴

▪️Women’s total number of IBA certified R&Js increases to 10 with one of them Leila Said Iddi becoming the first ever East African female to attain Star-3 status
▪️Kenya now has a total of five Star-3 R&Js all looking forward to officiate in the prestigious World Championships, Olympic and Commonwealth Games

Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) has every reason to shout from the highest rooftop on the tremendous progress they have made in empowering coaches, referees and judges since ascending to power in 2019. With no certified IBA R&J then, today BFK under the leadership of President Anthony Otieno Ombok aka Jamal, boasts of 26 IBA certified R&Js with five of them attaining the Star-3 status. They are Nelson Otieno, Samwel Obiero, Leila Said Iddi, Kibunja Mwaura and Stephen Ndung’u. The five Star-2 R&Js are Hellen Wanjiku, Richard Jobyesse, David Ouma, Mercy Musila and Odhiambo Joseph.

Star-1 R&Js: Linda Ombima, Moses Gitonga, David Opiyo, Sharon Anyango, Grace Ayebo, Cynthia Akinyi, Anthony Ngugi, Marchollo Alexander, Joseph Mwasia, Rebecca Wambui, Omar Salim, Samuel Chege, Rehema Adam, Anthony Bell Ouma, Maureen Adhiambo and Samuel Otieno Agai.

Releasing the latest figure, the chairman of BFK’s R&J Commission Nelson Otieno was in cloud nine following the rapid progress Kenya has made within a span of only five years.

“We owe it to BFK for holding two certification courses in Nairobi in 2025 which have a been big boost to all of us,” Otieno told boxersworld.co.ke

“It’s very expensive to travel out of the country to attend these courses, we are therefore very grateful to our national body for, I’m sure more of them are coming to Kenya.”

Otieno, fondly referred to as Kinshasa Mobimba by close friends, is himself a living example of the high caliber of Kenyan R&Js. He was honoured as the best R&J in the Konstantin Korotkov Championships in Russia in 2021, a feat of no mean achievement.

Such is the significant transformative steps BFK has taken in empowering the R&Js through Star-1 to 3 level courses to ensure they demonstrate a high degree of professionalism whenever they’re officiating.

Heavily relying on IBA to provide highly skilled instructors such as Rajiv Godavarisingh Rajcoomar from Mauritius, the federation is now reaping from the fruits of their labour as evidenced in the professionalism exhibited by their committed R&Js in the popular Kenya National Boxing League, the flagship event of the federation.

The strategic collaboration between BFK and IBA ensures Kenyan officials meet international standards, thus enhancing the quality and fairness when officiating boxing competitions in Kenya and overseas.

BFK has also facilitated IBA Star-1 and national certification courses for R&Js and coaches to anchor the growth of the game at the grassroots through the vibrant and successful “Ndondi Mashinani” initiative.

The focus on R&J development is going on concurrently with nurturing junior and youth boxers, bridging the generational gap to ensure a strong future for Kenyan boxing.

BFK’s other notable achievement is increasing the number of women in officiating roles and participation in the IBA certified courses.

As a result of this commitment, Kenya has made history in producing the first ever East African female to attain Star-3 status. She’s none other than Mombasa-based beauty Leila Said Iddi who is currently basking in glory from this remarkable achievement courtesy of her commitment, passion and hard work. In all, Kenya now has 10 IBA certified women R&Js.

IBA under the leadership of Russian billionaire Umar Kremlev has made it clear R&Js and coaches are an integral part in boxing development worldwide. That’s why IBA has invested heavily in the certification courses.

While boxers may be the main actors in this combat sport, it’s noteworthy that no competition can take place without the presence of R&Js. And there’s no boxer capable of training himself/herself without the guidance of coaches.

▪️From Kisumu the Soviets met the national team at City Hall in a Jamhuri Day celebration match. Did the Kenyans survive the Soviet’s onslaught?

COMING SOON: James Olie (pictured), a former international boxer and KDF soldier, will never forget this day when Soviet Union boxers clobbered the entire KDF 9-man team in December, 1984 in Kisumu. The heavily-armed KDF soldiers were hit hard as “sounds of gunfire” took centre stage in Kisumu.

Lemmy “Cobra” Katibi, one of the victims, refused to eat still smarting from the humiliation they went through.

“It was such a painful defeat,” recalls Olie who wondered how the Soviets mastered Kenya’s high altitude more than the locals.

Don’t miss this one. It’s all in boxersworld.co.ke

▪️She has made history becoming the first ever East African female R&J to achieve International Boxing Association Star-3 status

Mombasa-based Leila Said Iddi has broken the barriers becoming the first ever East African female R&J to attain the prestigious International Boxing Association(IBA) Star-3 Certification.

Leila passed with flying colours the IBA Star-3 certification course held in October, 2025, during the Africa Zone 3 Boxing Championships in Nairobi.

“I’m so excited finally I’m a Star-3 R&J I’m proud of this great achievement,” Leila told boxersworld.co.ke and thanked Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) for bringing the course to their doorstep.

In addition to Leila, the two other Kenyans who attained Star-3 status in the Zone certification course are Edward Kibunja Mwaura and Stephen Ndung’u Mathu. In total, the Boxing Federation of Kenya now has five Star-3 R&Js since coming to power in 2019. The other two are Samuel Obiero and Nelson Otieno aka Kinshasa Mobimba who is the chairman of BFK’s R&J Commission.

Leila, also the first Muslim Star-3 R&J in Kenya, has risen to this level through her passion and discipline.

The Coastal beauty walks gracefully in the ring while displaying a high level of professionalism, qualities attributed to her love and dedication to boxing.

Leila is always cautious on her movements in the ring, making sure her positioning is in accordance with IBA standards, which typically require referees to be mobile, unobtrusive, and agile to observe action from various angles.

She is definitely walking on air following this historic achievement, thanks to her tremendous urge to rise higher since attaining Star-1 status in 2024 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Together with Hellen Wanjiku Wathiga, Leila further shattered the glass ceiling by qualifying for Star-2 R&J level in a BFK-organised course in Nairobi.

With Star-3 status, Leila now qualifies to officiate in the World Championships and the Olympic Games.

A native of Waa, Kwale County, in Kenya’s Coastal Region, Leila’s marriage to boxing goes back to 2013.

“It’s my four sons who made me get into boxing because they loved the sport, I owe them a lot and dedicate my latest accolade to them,” said Leila.

Her commitment to boxing is not just confined to officiating. She has teamed up with a former international boxer Black Moses Mathenge to establish Vijiweni Boxing Club in Mtongwe, Mombasa.

“I decided to start this club to tap the talent of our Coastal youth some of whom have become drug addicts due to idleness. Boxing keeps them away from drug abuse.”

The club now has over 30 junior, youth and elite boxers, and Leila is confident Vijiweni Boxing Club will produce international boxers in the near future.

Photos by Duncan Kuria

▪️Funding the national team to international tournaments is commendable but that’s not enough to enable Kenya excel at the big stage. It’s curing the symptoms instead of finding a lasting solution to the whole problem
▪️For Kenya boxing to advance and reclaim its former glory, Mvurya must do away with their fence-sitting approach and adopt a hands-on system in order to implement a holistic, multi-faceted approach that addresses the root cause of the decline

There’s a growing resentment among Kenya’s boxing stakeholders and ring analysts that Kenya’s Sports Ministry hasn’t given boxing the attention and importance it deserves. The ministry has focused more on football, leading to chronic underfunding, poor facilities, lack of equipment and underperformance of the national team at the global level.

Despite boxing’s historical success and potential for youth empowerment and international glory, the Sports Ministry has focused more on football yet it’s known boxing and athletics are Kenya’s bread baskets at major Games such as the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and at the continental level. The records are there for everyone to see.

In terms of achievements, football’s only notable success at the continental level is a silver during the 1987 African Games in Nairobi. Compared to boxing’s success, the combat sport is far ahead of football with seven Olympic medals to boot.

Yet the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Honourable Salim Mvurya EGH and his team have failed to harness this potential to restore the glory days in Kenya boxing.

Boxing stakeholders want to see equitable investment, better governance, and grassroots support to revamp boxing and build on initiatives like ‘Ndondi Mashinani’ introduced by Boxing Federation of Kenya since 2019 when BFK President Anthony Otieno Ombok aka Jamal and his boxing barons ascended to the throne.

The point I’m driving home here is the ministry’s allocation of funding should be guided on merit, giving priority to disciplines which have excelled at the big stage.

While Kenya’s Sports Ministry deserves a hefty pat on the back for digging deeper on its limited resources to fund the national team in some major international tournaments like World Championships that’s not enough to enable Kenya bounce back to its glory days in the sport. The ministry is just treating the symptoms instead of addressing the root cause of the decline and come up with a lasting solution.(

For Kenya boxing to advance and reclaim its former glory, the Ministry of Sports must implement a holistic, multi-faceted approach that addresses systemic, infrastructural, and developmental gaps.

There’s an urgent need for a comprehensive Strategic Plan to be drawn by BFK in conjunction with the Sports Ministry. It should involve strengthening grassroots boxing, junior and youth development program, improving boxers’ welfare, creating employment opportunities for boxers, modernizing training, unifying the coaching system, R&J empowerment, media input, constant exposure of the national team and bringing sponsors on board.

Key pillars of a holistic approach to boxing development include:

1. Strengthening Grassroots and Talent Identification.

Ndondi Mashinani Initiative

Supporting community-based talent identification programs like “Ndondi Mashinani” to tap into rural and informal settlement talent, particularly among the youth. Refurbishing estate gyms in Nairobi (Kaloleni, Mbotela, Dallas Muthutwa, Jericho, Umoja, Kariobangi, Kibra, Githurai etc) to be manned by qualified coaches under the payroll of the county government. Nairobi is the Mecca of boxing in Kenya. Any improvement should first start with Nairobi and then move to other counties.

School-Based Programs

Introducing boxing in schools to build a sustainable pipeline of young talent, as championed by local foundations. If schools boxing is not possible, the Sports Ministry and BFK should come up with a comprehensive junior and youth development program

Female Boxing Focus

Actively promoting women’s boxing through dedicated leagues and initiatives to build confidence and skills for girls.

2. Infrastructural Investment and Equipment

Decentralized Training Hubs

Developing regional, basic training facilities equipped with rings, bags, gym, and hygiene facilities (changing rooms, toilets) to move beyond relying only on urban centers.

Equipping Local Gyms

Ensuring clubs have essential equipment like gloves, punch bags, pads, skipping ropes, shoes, tracksuits and qualified coaches. The proposed BFK unified coaching system will work better here so that Kenya develops its own boxing philosophy

3. Athlete Welfare and Professional Development

Boxers Employment

Providing regular employment opportunities for boxers in the forces and in other organisations to reduce the current boxers’ high dropout rate due to economic constraints.

Career Transitioning

Empowering boxers with life skills and training that prepare them for career opportunities beyond the ring.

Mental Health and Nutrition

Integrating mental, psychology, nutritional, and medical support into training regimes, rather than focusing only on physical training.

4. Governance, Leadership, and Capacity Building

Mentorship by Legends

Engaging former boxing champions to mentor young talent, provide guidance, and foster a culture of excellence.

Capacity Building for Coaches/Referees

Investing in training and certification programs for coaches, referees, and judges to improve technical standards to international (IBA) levels.

5. Strategic Partnerships and Funding

Public-Private Partnerships

Actively seeking corporate sponsorship to move beyond reliance on state funding and support from forces-backed teams (Police, Prisons and Armed Forces).

Consistent Competition

Hosting regular, high-standard competitions complimented by the national league and increasing international exposure to build experience and confidence.

By addressing the “whole athlete” and the entire ecosystem—from the local gym to the national team—the Ministry of Sports can transform Kenyan boxing into a sustainable, professional, and a more successful sport.

Exposure, as mentioned earlier, is an important component to improve the performance of the national team. To this end, the ministry’s funding of the national team’s participation in international competitions such as the World Championships is commendable and highly appreciated by the boxing fraternity. It should be maintained but one tournament per year is not enough.

Kenyan boxers need to be constantly exposed in more stiff
competitions in Europe, Americas and Asia to enable them gain knowledge, experience and new techniques.

One tournament which should always be in their calendar is Strandja Memorial staged annually in Sofia, Bulgaria and features renowned boxers. This year’s event takes place from February 21-March 2 in Sofia.

To plan better taking part in such important boxing tournaments, the Sports Ministry and the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) must meet to devise a Strategic Plan to revamp Kenya boxing.

Unfortunately, there’s very little interaction between the Ministry and BFK to compare notes identifying the sticky areas that need urgent attention.

Sports CS Mvurya will have to lead from the front to give boxing the attention it deserves and its budget increased. Allocation of funds should be based on the success of each discipline.

For political reasons football, which commands mass following, is given priority but in terms of success at the continental and world level, boxing is way ahead of football in Kenya.

We have seen Mvurya attending football matches and inspecting venues for the 2027 AFCON to be staged jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania but not so for boxing tournaments.

For instance, the Sports CS gave the 2025 Africa Zone 3 Championships at Kasarani a wide berth, and no postmortem has been conducted between the Ministry and BFK on the Zone 3 tournament. Yet it was the Ministry which funded the event.

Much as we commend the government for funding the event, one area they need to improve on is preparations of the national team. Proper preps are crucial in the national team’s success.

Unfortunately, the national team went through non-residential training at the worn-out Mathate Police Depot Gym. With only two punch bags available, boxers had to queue to work on the bags. Kenya’s preparations for big tournaments are below par so far. Efforts must be made to move away from Mathare Depot Gym.

In contrast, training venues of some of the world’s top national teams such as Cuba have over 20 punch-bags and several rings.

I normally visit the national team when they’re training at Mathare Depot but I have never seen a ministry official at the venue to monitor the preparations and compile stats.

When the team is travelling abroad this is where you will see a ministry official on board with no specific duties. They don’t even compile reports aimed at identifying and subsequent improvement of the weak areas they noticed in the trip. Sadly, most of them don’t even understand the fundamentals of boxing, neither do they know the boxers. A former ministry official, Richard Ombeba, is the only one who was keen on boxing and had passion for the sport to the extent of spending his own money to attend competitions held outside Nairobi.

We hope to see Mvurya & Co cultivate more interest in boxing and a hands-on approach to speed up the development of this popular sport in Kenya. The boxing budget has to be increased for constant exposure and thorough preparations of the national team and other related activities.

🏆 Africa’s Emerging Stars

COMING SOON: The rise of talented boxer, 15-year-old Hilal Mohamed (pictured) from Kenya’s Coastal County of Lamu.

The national junior champion 37-40 kg shares with us his ambition in boxing, and in this series we aso look at the challenges facing the grassroots coaches in Africa.

Hilal is a member of Lamu Boxing Club founded by coach Abdalla Feiswal Abdallah.

It’s all in boxersworld.co.ke, East Africa’s first ever boxing website

▪️ “He decided to work alone and even sidestepped me as his deputy but I want to change all this individualism.”

Ghana Boxing Federation’s (GBF) newly-elected President Alhaji Dauda Fuseni has unleashed heavy tattoos at the former boss Bernard Quartey pulling no punches in explaining why voters wanted a change of guard at the top.

Fuseni defeated Quartey by an overwhelming 85-25 votes during the GBF elections in December, 2025, promising a raft of changes to restore sanity in the management of this popular sport in the Western African country.

Quartey, also known as DSI, led the GBF board from 2021 to 2025.

He defeated George Lamptey by 59-45 votes ascending from GBF treasurer to become the president.

While Quartey may have had his positives, Fuseni has poured cold water on his style of leadership describing his former boss as a “one-man show” operator, and says this is what brought him down with a big thud at the GBF elections.

“I believe the areas where Bernard failed was his lack of effective communication with executive board members,” says Fuseni, adding: “Bernard missed opportunities where he could have involved executive members into the decision-making process to better develop boxing in Ghana.

“A great leader must listen and be open minded to suggestions from those around them. Bernard’s presidency was a one-man show. This is what led to his failure.”

Spirited efforts to have Quartey respond to Fuseni’s broadside were unsuccessful. He did not respond.

Fuseni outlines his key objectives as GBF President

“I’m committed to changing Ghana boxing by focusing on three major areas
1) Rebranding
2)Transparency
3)Regional intergration in sports.

Is Fuseni still keen on introducing the league?

“Yes, the league will be introduced in a grand style and will cover both the Youth and Elite.”

The new GBF boss is however unimpressed by Ghana’s boxing standards.

“I am not happy with the current state of boxing in Ghana, that is why I competed for the presidency. I want to elevate the standard and bring it back to the good old days.

“We’ve not attracted sponsorship because the brand, GBF, was not properly packaged and therefore lacked attention from potential sponsors.
I will rebrand boxing and commission a robust sponsorship committee that will market boxing.”

▪️She’s now living in her own house in Casablanca she bought with the $100,000 prize money earned in the 2023 Women’s World Championships

Towering Moroccan multiple African gold medallist and 2023 world heavyweight champion Khadija Mardi has every reason to feel proud of IBA’s leadership under Russian billionaire Umar Kremlev.

Mardi, the first African female boxer to win a world title in 2023, is now a proud owner of a four-bedroomed house in Casablanca, Morocco.

“I thank Kremlev so much, I bought my house with the $100,000 prize money I received in New Delhi for winning the world title,” Khadija told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview from her house in Casablanca as she cuddled her last-born baby Chams.

“IBA prize money has changed the lives of many boxers in the world, we’re proud of what Kremlev and his team are doing for the boxers.

“No other boxing organisation in the world can match what the IBA is doing for the boxers, it’s just amazing. I never expected to live in my own house especially in Casablanca buying a house is very expensive but through Kremlev I own one now,” says a jovial Khadija.

She also bought a family car with part of the $50,000 prize money she earned at the 2022 Women’s World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey where she won a silver medal.

Khadija is also a beneficiary of $10,000 she won at the 2022 African Elite Championships in Maputo, $15,000 in Yaounde and $3000 in Kinshasa.

The Moroccan mother of four girls – Ilham, Fatima Zahra, Soultana and Chams – is aiming to win her fourth continental crown in this year’s African Elite Championships.

“I’m happy IBA will have $1 million prize money, I’m waiting they announce the venue we start preparing to earn more cash,” says the amiable Khadija who currently has no opposition in the heavyweight division and has never lost in Africa.

She has won gold twice in the African Games, in 2019 at middleweight and 2023 African Games in Accra and three gold medals in the African Elite Championships.

In the Women’s World Championships, Khadija first won a bronze at middleweight in 2019 in Ulan-Ude, Russia, silver in Turkey and gold in New Delhi among her many accolades at the big stage.

Khadija has appealed to the IBA to increase more prize money tournaments in Africa.

“Boxing is my business, I do nothing else but boxing, I’ll stick with IBA the top boxing body in the world,” says Khadija with a deserved sense of pride.