People take up boxing for various reasons, either as a workout routine to keep fit or to learn self-defence, but for a section of Nakuru youths the sport has become a form of therapy.

Gideon Wangai from Kaptembwo is one of the young men that is using boxing as a way to stay away from drugs and organised crime groups.

Gideon Wangai at Amateur Boxing Club.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

The 22-year-old who trains at the Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club, says that boxing keeps him engaged, hence preventing him from committing crime, falling into drug and substance abuse and violence.

Being a reformed addict, boxing helps him remain committed in his recovery journey. After seeing that most of his peers who had been addicts before ended up getting arrested and sometimes lost their lives, he decided to change his life for the better.

The firstborn of four siblings attributes his recovery to his mother who kept urging him to change.

He is now able to be a role model to the community around him where he has encouraged two of his friends to join the sport.

Wangai, is a fashion and design student at Nakuru Vocational Training centre boxing at the intermediate light welter fighter level.

Victor Komen, 24, on the other hand, joined the sport after injuring his friend in a street fight. He fights in the light flyweight under 48 kg category.

Victor Komen at Amateur Boxing Club.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

The decision to start boxing was not well received by his mother, but after some time she was able to see the positive impact the sport had on her son.

The IT student at Nakuru Vocational Training centre, aspires to join the National boxing team and represent Kenya in major international tournaments.

Komen wants to create awareness of mental health issues among boxers and athletes.

He hopes that through his platform, he can be able to encourage young people aspiring to take up boxing not to give up when things get difficult as it can be hard to earn money from the sport.

Francis Mwangi, a coach at the club, says that there is a need to have more external games to give the young talents exposure since there is immense talent in the county.

mercykihugu@gmail.com

Nakuru youth battling drug addiction, depression, find second chance in boxing

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Mercy Kihugu