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2025 RECAP: Year Kenyan boxers improved globally, rookies stood out, and top leadership was uncontested
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Reading Time: 4min | Sun. 04.01.26. | 21:50
Kenya in the year also gained World Boxing approval, all in readiness for the 2028 LA Olympic Games
For a sport, at least in Kenya and in recent times, closely associated with defeats bordering on excuses, 2025 was the year of change.
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The shift might not have been laden with medals or silverware, but had the presence of a missing ingredient - determination - that was in other years was shadowed by a feel of resignation.
In this piece, we look at the year it was for Kenya's boxing, also punctuated by emergence of new blood, leadership status quo, and some hard lessons.
Okaka leads valiant show in Dubai
Among the highs for Hit Squad in 2025 was their performance at the IBA Men's World Boxing Championships, where the country dared dream of a first event gold since 1978.
This came after one of their boxers - light heavyweight Robert Okaka - romped into the money round of the Dubai event, becoming the first Kenyan to reach the quarters in 43 years.
Though he lost to Russia's Dzhambulat Bizhamov, Okaka ended up bagging his biggest pay-check yet, taking home a $10,000 cash prize.
Okaka celebrates after beating Tunisian Rafrafi Youssef in the Round of 32 ©BFKThat performance was preceded by other notable wins in the championships, joined by two others in the pre-quarters (last 16) - Washington Wandera, and first-timer featherweight Paul Omondi.
For a nation well accustomed to late arrivals that translated to early bounces, the desert offered a breath of fresh air.
Newbies impress, offer hope
On a similar note of freshness, so was the feeling of both men and women's national teams as they injected some new blood into their set-ups.
In a process that can only be termed long overdue, Hit Squad coach Musa Benjamin hit the right buttons when he incorporated new names in his teams, most of whom did not disappoint.
On the men's side, the aforementioned Omondi was the biggest indication of how well the gamble had paid, adapting to the big stage like a fish in water.
Caleb Wandera was another man who earned his stripes in Dubai, though in losing fashion to Argentina's Lucas Mariano in his first bout.
Despite that, it was no wonder the pair's performances augured well with Musa, as he noted: "It was a great experience especially for the debutants who showed good maturity, composure, resilience and competitiveness."
On the women's side, 2023 National Novices champion Cynthia Mwai fought hard in her IBA Championships debut in March, with up-and-coming Sheila Auma showing remarkable character in her Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships defeat to Ethiopia's Roman Asefa.
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In the youth category, positive signs of what is to come presented itself with two medals at the Africa Youth Games in Angola.
The medals - both bronze - came from flyweight Clinton Omondi and national novices light welterweight champion Sonia Atieno.
Clinton Omondi and his coaches ©Team KenyaTough lessons
And while wins might have been welcome in the men's side, the women's side colllapsed heavily at the IBA Women's Boxing Championships in Serbia, as only one boxer made it past a round, all the rest suffering first-time defeats.
The low-light of them was Elizabeth Andiego's controversial quarter final defeat to China's Xiaomeng Wang, a situation that shed light on the underworld of unfair judging scorecards.
Home Championships
In October, Kenya played hosts to the Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships, where Kenya finished second overall with five gold, 11 silver and eight bronze medals.
Among the top performers in the team were light flyweight Silas Onyango, national bantamweight champion Amina Martha and Veronica Mbithe, who all struck gold.
Those individual wins, at least, provided reprieve for a competition DRC bossed again.
Chafua chafua reign supreme
In the local scene, Kenya Police reclaimed its National Open Boxing Championships, edging out rivals KDF, who finished second.
In a rare sight on the final day, Kenyan boxing legends were recognized and treating to a luncheon, even as IBA certificates were handed out to newly accredited Star One coaches and judges.
Ombok re-elected
In March, leadership at the top of the national boxing federation went unchallenged after Anthony 'Jamal' Otieno Ombok was elected as President of BFK unopposed.
Otieno, who got into office in 2019, will seve for another four-year term, and was not alone in retaining his seat, with David Munuhe, John Waweru and Musa Benjamin being elected as Secretary General, Competition Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
How the office conduct business will be key going into 2026, with the President promising progress at both local and international competitions.
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