NANYUKI, KENYA – The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) boxing team secured a crucial victory in the fourth leg of the 2025 National Boxing League, narrowly defeating their arch-rivals, the Kenya Police, in a fiercely contested tournament that concluded here on Saturday, November 8, 2025. The soldiers, popularly known as 'Defaba', amassed 26 points, edging out the Police, known as 'Chafua Chafua', who finished with 23 points in the penultimate leg of the season.

The win significantly boosts KDF's chances of retaining the national title they won in 2024, a victory that ended a decade of dominance by the Kenya Police. However, despite the weekend's results, the Police still maintain the overall lead in the league standings with 60 points. KDF sits in second place with 47 points, having missed one leg of the league earlier in the season due to official commitments. This sets up a high-stakes final leg in Kisumu next month, where the national champion will be decided.

Key Bouts Decide a Tense Contest

The Nanyuki leg was a testament to the long-standing and intense rivalry that has defined Kenyan boxing for decades. Both KDF and the Police entered nine boxers into the finals, ensuring the competition would go down to the wire. Several high-profile matchups between national team stars highlighted the event.

In one of the most anticipated fights, KDF's Robert Okaka defeated Humphrey 'Jakababa' Ochieng of the Police on points in the light heavyweight (81kg) category, marking a second consecutive victory for Okaka over his rival. Another significant win for the military side came from Africa Games middleweight gold medallist Edwin Okong'o, who overcame his long-time police rival George Cosby on points.

However, the Police team secured significant victories of their own. Africa Boxing Championships light middleweight gold medallist Boniface Mogunde defeated KDF's Lucky Nyiro with a 3-0 decision. In the bantamweight division, national champion Shaffi Bakari of the Police made a strong comeback, beating Chris Musyoki of Kenya Prisons on points. Bakari expressed satisfaction after the bout, noting he had corrected mistakes from previous losses to KDF's Dennis Muthama.

The State of the League

The results from Nanyuki underscore a highly competitive season. Behind the two dominant forces, Kenya Prisons finished a distant third with eight points, while Laikipia and Nakuru counties were tied for fourth with five points each. The league, organized by the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK), serves as a critical platform for nurturing talent and selecting boxers for the national team, 'The Hit Squad'. This weekend's event also served as an initial selection phase for the Elite World Men's Boxing Championships scheduled for Dubai from December 2-13.

The KDF team, under coach Moses “Black Moses” Mathenge, has credited its recent success to strong institutional support, disciplined recruitment, and the integration of a formidable women's team. Their 2024 league title was a landmark achievement, built on winning four of the five legs of that season.

Implications for Kenyan Boxing

The intense competition between KDF and the Police is widely seen as the lifeblood of Kenyan boxing, pushing the standards of the sport higher. For years, these two disciplined forces have been the primary talent pools for the national team, producing some of Kenya's most celebrated boxers. The resurgence of KDF as a dominant force has revitalized this rivalry, creating renewed excitement for fans across the country.

As confirmed by the Boxing Federation of Kenya's 2025 calendar, the fifth and final leg of the league will take place in Kisumu. With the title still mathematically within reach for KDF, the Kisumu event promises to be an explosive conclusion to the season. The Police will be looking to protect their points advantage and reclaim the trophy, while KDF will aim for a decisive victory to secure back-to-back championships.