▪️National team head coach Musa Benjamin includes 19 ambitious debutants among them sensational brothers Ben and Chris Juma, Dennis Muthama, promising southpaw Grace Atieno and former street girl Damacline Boyani
▪️ Boxing Federation of Kenya makes history hosting the inaugural WB African Championships fully funded by the govenment.
September 24, 2026
A powerful squad of 39 highly motivated Kenyan boxers—28 men and 11 women—is set to storm the ring at the inaugural WB African Boxing Championships from October 12–22, 2026, at the Kasarani Indoor Arena, Nairobi.
National team head coach Musa Benjamin unveiled the formidable roster today, highlighting a massive youth surge with 19 fierce debutants eager to make their mark on the international stage. This historic Nairobi tournament operates under the banner of African Boxing, an affiliate of World Boxing, formed chiefly as a vehicle to carry boxers safely to the Olympic Games.
The rookie contingent features some of the country’s most explosive rising talent. Among those earning their maiden national vests are sensational Kasarani Youth lightweight Ben Juma, his promising young brother Chris Juma, and KDF’s reigning Africa Military Games bantamweight champion Dennis Muthama.
The men’s debutant lineup brings serious firepower:
Morris Kimani: A slick, elusive flyweight southpaw out of Kasarani Youth.
Morris Odhiambo: The stubborn G44 bantamweight who sent shockwaves through the league after rocking the formidable Muthama in Mombasa.
Emmanuel Omollo: The relentless southpaw, reigning national lightweight champion from Police who has moved up to welterweight.
George Ayacko: KDF’s super-heavyweight, fresh off a stunning upset victory over African silver medalist Clinton Macharia.
Rounding out the rookies: Samuel Ndiema, Police middleweight Steve Onyango, former Kajiado standout Lawrence Ombwochi now at KDF, Ruaraka’s sharp-shooting Francis Lennox, flyweight Abdallah Juma, Prisons gritty southpaw Chris Musyoki and cruiserweight enforcer Victor Okeke.
The women’s newcomer list boasts inspiring stories and lethal skill:
Grace Atieno: The gritty light-flyweight southpaw representing Githurai Thailand showed her mettle in the Robert Wangila Memorial Cup finals outclassing Damacline Boyani
Damacline Boyani: A resilient former street girl turned Kasarani Youth boxing prodigy boasting two wins over Prisons international Jane Wangare.
Juliet Akinyi: The giant-killer from Kisumu who shocked Kenya’s boxing fraternity by conquering experienced international Elizabeth Akinyi during a fiery league clash in Vihiga.
Both Akinyis are locked into a stacked middleweight division and will face the might of the Nigerians.
Elizabeth Akinyi returns to the national fold for the first time since the 2023 Women’s World Championships in India, setting up a blockbuster, rematch in Kisumu this November against her namesake Juliet.
Anchoring this hungry young squad is a battle-tested core of decorated elite campaigners, including:
Veronica “Pioneer” Mbithe & Lencer Akinyi: The commanding flyweight anchors with Mbithe holding the 2025 Africa Zone 3 title and Africa Military Games silver medal.
Amina Martha: The African Games bantamweight bronze medalist unbeaten locally since 2019.
Boniface “The Hammer” Mogunde: The devastating, reigning African Champion unbeaten locally for eight years and is the captain of the team.
Edwin Okong’o: The explosive African Games middleweight champion. He’s a former basketballer.
Shaffi Bakari: The longest-serving international with silver at the 2019 Africa Games and multiples medals including gold in Zone 3 Championships. He started representing the senior team in 2017.
Robert “Man Ngori” Okaka: The twice African bronze medallist is the first Kenyan boxer in 43 years to make it to the quarter-finals of the IBA Men’s World Championships.
Other regular internationals are omena boy Alvin “Liwaloliwe” Oduor, Mwinyi Kombo, Aloys Vincent, Chris Ochanda, Peter “The Beast” Abuti, and the dangerous Clinton Macharia.
The WB 10 weight categories to be competed for men are: 50kg flyweight, 55kg bantamweight, 60kg lightweight, 65kg welterweight, 70 kg light-middleweight, 75kg middleweight, 80kg light-heavyweight, 85kg cruiserweight, 90kg heavyweight and 90+kg super-heavyweight.
Women’s 10 weights are: 48kg light-flyweight, 51kg flyweight, 54kg bantamweight, 57kg featherweight, 60kg lightweight, 65kg welterweight, 70kg light-middleweight, 75kg middleweight, 80kg light-heavyweight and 80+kg heavyweight
Here’s the full Kenya team:
Women
1.Jane Wangare –48-L/fly
2.Grace Atieno –48
3.Damacline Boyani–51-fly
4.Lencer Akinyi–51
5.Veronicah Mbithe–51
6.Amina Martha –54kg
7.Rahab Mumbi –54
8.Silvia Obwamu–65
9.Clare Okwaluma –70
10.Elizabeth Akinyi–80kg
11) Juliet Akinyi–80kg
Men
1.Morris Kimani –50kg(fly)
2.Kelvin Maina –50kg
3.Emmanuel Chondo–50kg
4. Abdallah Juma–50
5.Dennis Muthama-55kg
6.Emmanuel Odhiambo–55kg
7.Moses Kilavuka –50
8.Chris Musyoki–55
9.Shaffi Bakari–55
10.Benedict Juma–60kg(l/weight)
11.Mwinyi Kombo–60
12. Chris Juma –60
13.Aloice Vincent–65kg(L/welter)
14.Emmanuel Omollo–65
15.Samuel Ndiema–65
16.Bonface Mugunde –70kg(L/middle)
17.Alvin Oduor–70
18.Steven Onyango 75kg (middle)
19.Lawrence Ombwochi–75
20.Edwin Okong’o –75
21.Francis Lennox–75
22.Robert Okaka-80kg(L/heavy)
23.George Cosby–80kg
24.Chrispine Ochanda–86kg(cruiser)
25. Victor Okeke–86
26.Peter Abuti–90(Heavy weight)
27.Geofrey Ayacko–90+(super)
28.Clinton Macharia–90+
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