Ndondi Mashinani, a Kenya-France sports partnership to promote boxing in “disadvantaged neighborhoods of the country's second-largest city” was launched on Friday at Alliance Française, Mombasa.
Spearheaded by the Mombasa County Boxing Association (MCBA) and the Alliance Française de Mombasa, with support from the French Embassy, the project seeks to foster social inclusion through sport, drawing inspiration from the Olympic values of respect, tolerance, and perseverance showcased at the Paris 2024 Games.
Ndondi Mashinani, meaning ‘boxing at the grassroots’ in Swahili, targets youth in Mombasa’s disadvantaged neighborhoods, where poverty and drug-related challenges often limit access to cultural and leisure activities.
The initiative’s first phase, running from May to October 2025, includes equipping MCBA with a professional boxing ring, supplying 12 affiliated clubs with gear suitable for women and children, and training over 80 coaches, referees, and school sports teachers.
The program emphasizes inclusivity, offering memberships for 12 girls, launching a “Sports and Disability” day, and preparing elite boxers for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
“This initiative will bring boxing to the grassroots, teaching young people its discipline and safety. I’m confident many will embrace the sport,” said Chrispine Onyango, MCBA Secretary General and Vice President of the Boxing Federation of Kenya.”
Kenneth Ambani, Mombasa County’s Sports Executive Committee Member, highlighted the project’s role in addressing infrastructure gaps.
“The French government is providing equipment, and we’re working on stadiums like Bububu, which will house a sports academy,” he said, noting partnerships with the national government and the County Pension Fund.
Kenneth Ambani, Mombasa County Sports CECM addressing the media during the Ndondi Mashinani launch.
Ambani urged the private sector to support the initiative, emphasizing its potential to steer youth away from drugs
“When they come to you seeking financial support, and funding for specific initiatives, just know that it is our young people that we are removing into those drug dens and all the bad vices that are associated with our young people in Mombasa. Let’s support them,” Ambani stated.
Lucas Malcor, Director of Alliance Française Mombasa, underscored the cultural ties driving the project.
“France and Kenya are sporting giants. After hosting the Paris Olympics, we saw Mombasa’s boxing potential during our 2024 Olympic Boxing Day,” he said.
He added: “One of the objectives we have is to increase the number of girls and women doing boxing and there’s a program on that.”
Lucas Malcor, Alliance Française Director, and Kenneth Ambani during the launch of Ndondi Mashinani launch
Ndondi Shuleni, a series of school-based boxing demos across Mombasa’s six sub-counties, will introduce students to the sport, while French boxers will join to share their expertise.
Ndondi Mashinani is poised to revitalize Mombasa’s boxing scene and strengthen ties between Kenyan and French athletes while empowering a new generation.
Additional reporting by Patrick Chiriba
