NAIROBI – Kenyan golfer Isaac Makokha, who made history at the 2022 Deaflympics, is expressing supreme confidence in his quest for a gold medal at the upcoming 25th Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan. The games are scheduled to run from Wednesday, November 15, to Sunday, November 26, 2025, EAT. Makokha, 33, leads a four-member Kenyan golf contingent and is determined to build on his groundbreaking performance in Brazil, where he became the first Kenyan to win a golf medal at the global event.

In May 2022, at the 24th Summer Deaflympics in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, Makokha secured a bronze medal after defeating Germany’s Guldan Nico in a tense playoff. That achievement was a significant improvement on his fifth-place finish at the 2017 Games in Samsun, Turkey. His journey to the podium in Brazil was halted in the semi-finals by the eventual two-time gold medalist, John Allen of Germany, an opponent Makokha is prepared to face again. “Allen is a strong opponent but I'm ready to face him head-on. I can manage to knock him out this time, because my body is on fire,” Makokha stated in early November 2025.

Forged in Competition

Makokha’s confidence is not unfounded. The Vet Lab Sports Club player has been in formidable form, honing his skills against both deaf and able-bodied competitors. A significant milestone in his preparation came in September 2025, when he won the NCBA Railway Invitation Golf Tournament. In that event, he triumphed over a field of able-bodied golfers, including the defending champion Michael Karanga, demonstrating his competitive readiness for the world stage. “I have participated in several tournaments and I have won several medals and trophies... I have learnt a lot from them and with that, it has prepared me for Tokyo,” Makokha said.

Born deaf in Chakalini, Kakamega County, Makokha’s journey in golf began at the age of 12 at the Eldoret Golf Club, where his father worked. Now a father of one, he has become a trailblazer for deaf sports in Kenya. To qualify for the Tokyo Games, he bested a field of 15 other local deaf golfers in a series of stroke play and match play championships.

Team Kenya's Ambitions

Makokha is a key figure in a downsized but focused Kenyan delegation for the Tokyo Games. According to a statement from Team Kenya Chief Executive Officer Duncan Kuria on October 22, 2025, the national contingent was reduced from 12 to five disciplines due to budgetary constraints. Kenya will now compete in athletics, swimming, women's basketball, men's handball, and golf. The full team comprises 177 athletes and officials who have been in a residential training camp at Kasarani.

The golf team features a blend of experience and new talent. Alongside Makokha are seasoned players Adan Wario and Gilbert Alikula, who also competed in Brazil. They are joined by teenage sensation Jacinta Njeri, a 19-year-old Form Two student who will be making her Deaflympics debut and is poised to be the first Kenyan female deaf golfer at the Games. Team Kenya deaf golf coach David Kihara has expressed confidence in Makokha's potential to medal again. “He has trained very well, competed in several tough tournaments and I think this time around he is ready to bring us something bigger than the bronze medal,” Kihara noted.

Despite his successes, Makokha has highlighted the lack of adequate equipment as a persistent challenge in his preparations. As the Tokyo Games approach, his journey represents not only a personal quest for gold but also a symbol of resilience and a source of national pride. Kenya, which topped all African nations at the 2022 Deaflympics with 24 medals (5 gold, 7 silver, and 12 bronze), looks to its athletes like Makokha to once again shine on the international stage.