Angella Okutoyi appeals for help as ailing aunt battles rare condition
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 22.11.25. | 20:33
According to doctors, she has battled the condition since 2022 and has been on continuous medication. However, recent weeks saw a sharp decline in her health, prompting her admission to hospital
Kenyan tennis sensation Angella Okutoyi has issued a heartfelt appeal for support as her aunt, Cynthia Okutoyi, battles a critical health condition that has left the family in urgent need of assistance.
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The situation unfolded dramatically just minutes before Okutoyi was due to step onto the court for her second-round singles match at the ITF W35 Orlando 3 tournament on Thursday, 13 November.
She had been informed of a sudden medical emergency regarding her aunt, whose condition had worsened despite being hospitalised for weeks. Previously able to respond through nods or writing, Cynthia’s health had deteriorated further, causing Angella immense emotional distress.
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Despite the shock, Okutoyi continued with her match. Although she fell short in the singles semifinals, she later clinched gold in the women’s doubles alongside partner Francesca Pace, defeating the USA duo of Maribella and Allura Zamarripa 2-1 (6-3, 4-6, 13-12).
Okutoyi dedicated her performance to her aunt, revealing that while her outward expressions may not have shown it, she was deeply affected by the news.
Cynthia was initially diagnosed with pneumonia but was later found to be suffering from Myasthenia Gravis, a rare chronic neuromuscular disease that causes severe muscle weakness.
According to doctors, she has battled the condition since 2022 and has been on continuous medication. However, recent weeks saw a sharp decline in her health, prompting her admission to hospital.
The mounting medical bills have added to the family’s strain. As of Tuesday, 7 November, the hospital bill stood at Ksh450,000, but by Friday, 21 November, it had surged to Ksh2 million. Okutoyi’s family has managed to raise Ksh600,000, leaving a remaining need of roughly Ksh1.4 million.
Through a social media post, Okutoyi appealed for help from well-wishers.
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"Her bill is now at about KES 2 million, and part of it must be settled for treatment to continue. My family has managed to raise KES 600,000, but much more is needed ~1.4m.
The need is real, urgent, and heavy, and we kindly request your support. Contributions can be sent to Jane Ndenga (Tennis Kenya Council Member) via M-Pesa: 0725 469 785. May God touch every heart,” she posted.
Okutoyi first captured international attention in 2022 when she became the first Kenyan woman to win a junior Grand Slam match at the Australian Open.
Later that year, she made history again by winning the Wimbledon girls’ doubles title with Rose Marie Nijkamp, marking Kenya’s first Grand Slam title in any category.
On the professional circuit, she has continued to make her mark, winning multiple ITF World Tennis Tour titles, including becoming the first Kenyan, male or female, to claim an ITF singles title at the W15 Monastir event in July 2023.
She followed this with another singles title at the W25 Nairobi tournament in December 2023, cementing her status as Kenya’s leading female tennis player.
The 21-year-old has also shone on the continental stage, winning gold in women’s singles at the African Games, defeating Egypt’s Lamis Alhussein Abdel Aziz in the final.
On the international stage, she has represented Kenya in the Billie Jean King Cup, making her debut at just 14 years old. Her career-high WTA rankings of No. 491 in singles and No. 249 in doubles reflect her consistent progress on the professional tour.
