Waziri Mayai Wa Maradhi
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 28, 2026
- 409
- 98
Defending champions Police and KDF each have eight boxers in the finals of the 2026 boxing league opener but the women’s participation is merely an exhibition act because their points are not counted as it happens in the Kenya Open. Why?
May 16, 2026
The exclusion of women’s bouts from overall league points scoring is a longstanding contentious issue in the Kenya National Boxing League which needs to be sorted out in the 2026 season.
For instance, in the first leg of the 2026 league opener in Nakuru, defending champions Police and KDF have eight boxers each in the final but the two women in KDF, Veronica Mbithe and Friza Asiko, will not score points for their team because women’s participation in the league is still a merely exhibition act yet at the IBA Africa Zone 3 Championships in 2025, Mbithe and Asiko won gold medals which were part of Kenya’s overall medals rally.
So, why is this not happening in the Kenya National Boxing League?
In addition to KDF, teams from Nairobi, Prisons and Sombea have women taking part in the finals but their participation is just a formality, or flower girls if you like.
Despite female pugilists proving their mettle and forming an integral part of the clubs, this policy undermines the true depth of teams like KDF by rendering their women’s victories meaningless for the championship title.
The ongoing rivalry between KDF and the Police highlights the unfairness of the current system.
May 16, 2026
The exclusion of women’s bouts from overall league points scoring is a longstanding contentious issue in the Kenya National Boxing League which needs to be sorted out in the 2026 season.
For instance, in the first leg of the 2026 league opener in Nakuru, defending champions Police and KDF have eight boxers each in the final but the two women in KDF, Veronica Mbithe and Friza Asiko, will not score points for their team because women’s participation in the league is still a merely exhibition act yet at the IBA Africa Zone 3 Championships in 2025, Mbithe and Asiko won gold medals which were part of Kenya’s overall medals rally.
So, why is this not happening in the Kenya National Boxing League?
In addition to KDF, teams from Nairobi, Prisons and Sombea have women taking part in the finals but their participation is just a formality, or flower girls if you like.
Despite female pugilists proving their mettle and forming an integral part of the clubs, this policy undermines the true depth of teams like KDF by rendering their women’s victories meaningless for the championship title.
The ongoing rivalry between KDF and the Police highlights the unfairness of the current system.
