Nairobi Tujiamini Gold Winners Advocate for Women’s Boxing League to Advance the Sport in Kenya

Fresh from winning the Tujiamini Gold award for the Nairobi region, Box Girls Kenya, a community-based boxing organization, is calling for the establishment of a women’s boxing league in Kenya to help develop local talent and advance the sport.

Box Girls Kenya was recently unveiled as the Tujiamini Gold award winner for the Nairobi region, earning a cash prize of Kes. 500,000.

 The Tujiamini initiative, powered by SportPesa, is dedicated to nurturing grassroots talent and enhancing the quality of sports at the community level.

Analo Anjere, boxing coach and founder of Box Girls Kenya emphasized the need for a well-structured and exclusive Women’s Boxing League run entirely by women to promote enrollment and competitiveness through regular tournaments. ‘This will help build up our amateur and professional rankings to give our female boxers an edge regionally and globally,’ she said.

Her call for a dedicated league aligns with a broader vision to transform women’s boxing in Kenya, providing a platform for growth, recognition, and greater opportunities for female athletes both locally and on the international stage

Anjere noted that the Kes. 500,000 Tujiamini award will be used to upgrade the gym and training facilities in Kariobangi, Embakasi North Constituency, Nairobi, to better support their athletes. Meanwhile, Sarah Achieng, a professional boxer and sports administrator at Box Girls Kenya, highlighted that despite the growing interest and talent, women’s boxing in Kenya remains critically underdeveloped compared to men’s, underscoring the need for more investment and structural support

Sarah Achieng, a seasoned professional boxer and sports administrator at Box Girls Kenya, emphasized the need for regularly scheduled fights as crucial for the growth and development of boxing. ‘Female boxers, in particular, need consistent competition to maximize their full potential. I urge the public to strongly support women’s sports because we have the talent and requisite competitive spirit to succeed,’ she said.

Founded in 2007, Box Girls Kenya began with just two women aspiring to box. To date, the organization has trained and mentored over 4,000 girls in boxing and self-defense. The group also hopes to expand beyond boxing to include other sports and non-sport activities, empowering girls both inside and outside the ring.

Lyle Asiligwa, Director at DBA Africa, which partnered with SportPesa on the Tujiamini Initiative, acknowledged the immense talent among young women seeking advancement opportunities within the community.

Asiligwa noted, ‘The Nairobi region’s Tujiamini submissions displayed a high level of competitiveness, and Box Girls Kenya stood out as a key driver of sporting talent and positive change in the community. Their blend of amateur and professional boxing is proving to be high-yielding, and we look forward to seeing more exploits from the club.’

His comments underscore the importance of initiatives like Tujiamini in recognizing and promoting female-driven sporting projects, which are crucial to ensuring that women athletes in Kenya receive the attention and resources they need to thrive. 

As the Tujiamini Initiative, powered by SportPesa, moves to the South Rift region in September, young people especially young women, are encouraged to participate. With the initiative’s conclusion in November, this is a critical opportunity for aspiring athletes to gain valuable support and recognition.