The first leg of the Boxing Federation of Kenya Kenya National Boxing League concluded in spectacular fashion at the Nakuru Old Town Hall after three days of thrilling bouts that brought together elite boxing clubs and county teams from across the country under the theme “Ndondi Mashinani.”

‎‎The tournament marked a major milestone for boxing in Nakuru County, with local teams Sombea Boxing Club and Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club delivering impressive performances against some of Kenya’s most established boxing sides.

‎‎Making their maiden appearance in the national league, Sombea Boxing Club emerged as the biggest surprise package of the tournament after finishing second overall with 10 points, behind the experienced KDF/Police team that topped the standings with 22 points.

‎‎Nairobi County finished third with nine points, while Kenya Prison Services and Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club tied on seven points each.

‎‎According to Sombea Boxing Club chairman Martin Luther, the performance was a statement of intent from the Nakuru-based club.

‎‎“This was our first-ever participation in the Kenya National Boxing League, and we came in determined to make an impact. Finishing second overall in the country is a huge achievement for us and shows that Sombea Boxing Club is becoming a force in Kenyan boxing,” said Luther.

‎‎He attributed the club’s strong showing to intensive training focused on strength and speed, qualities that enabled their fighters to overcome several seasoned opponents during the competition.

‎One of the standout performers of the tournament was Ayub Waweru, Sombea Boxing Club’s national lightweight champion, who has remained unbeaten throughout the past year.

‎‎Luther noted that Waweru’s dominance has attracted growing attention from disciplined forces and boxing stakeholders across the country.

‎‎“Ayub has been exceptional. He has remained undefeated and is now attracting interest from different disciplined forces because of his talent and consistency,” he said.

‎‎The chairman, however, acknowledged that the club still has areas to improve ahead of the second leg of the league scheduled for Mombasa.

‎‎“We realized that while our boxers are strong and fast, we need to improve on technical punching and tactical execution. That is what we will focus on as we prepare for the next leg,” he added.

‎‎For Nakuru County, hosting the national boxing league was seen as a significant step towards reviving the sport, which had declined over the years.

Spectators follow a boxing match at Old Town Hall

Photo credit: MUTHONI WANJIKU/ MTAA WANGU

‎‎Luther described the event as a “boxing resurrection” for Nakuru, saying the county was embracing grassroots development through the “Ndondi Mashinani” and “Ndondi Mitaani” initiatives aimed at nurturing talent, discipline and mentorship among young people.

‎‎“This tournament showed that boxing is returning to Nakuru. We want to take boxing back to the grassroots, create opportunities for young people and help them use sports to transform their lives,” he said.

‎‎He added that boxing was already opening doors for local youth, revealing that one of Sombea’s boxers had recently been recruited into the National Police Service and is currently undergoing training.

‎‎The strong performances by Sombea Boxing Club and Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club have now raised expectations ahead of the second leg of the national league in Mombasa, where the Nakuru-based teams will be seeking to build on their impressive start and continue elevating the county’s profile in Kenyan boxing.

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Born from crisis; Sombea boxing club punches Its way to success

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Muthoni Wanjiku