Conjestina Achieng

Kenyan boxer

Being otherwise unemployed, Achieng, who normally earned about $250 a fight, relied on boxing to pay for her inexpensive one room rented apartment in Nairobi's impoverished Lucky Summer estate. Her greatest challenge was to finance her training and maintain a well balanced diet. In a country where many survive on less than $1 a day, Achieng struggled to put food on the table and meet her basic needs. Government support for training facilities and equipment is limited and reliable boxing promoters are rare, so prize money is hard to come by. "I earn a living the hard way", she said in an interview with Women Boxing Archive Network. "I can't afford the right foods and sometimes I don't even have the bus fare to go for training. When I look at other boxers like Mike Tyson and Laila Ali, my soul bleeds. They are rich and the kind of life they lead is not comparable to ours. But us we lead a dog's life. Things don’t fall on a silver plate. Every individual has to reap where he or she has sown and I am no exception." "In Kenya, boxing is not well paying as people may think. I don’t have a permanent salary and I’m only paid when there is a fight and if I have won. Boxing is hard and should be treated with the seriousness it deserves. One has to be committed and train hard." "I have a son and younger sisters who are still in school, and all of them depend on me. My aging parents can no longer afford to cater for these people and I’m left in charge," she added. Achieng's day began at 5.30 a. m. with 15 km of road work, then at 8.30 am she resumed her normal gym training till midday. "I enjoy boxing in the company of male boxers", said Achieng. "We train and share ideas." In any spare time she volunteered at a nearby school assisting children through their assignments and marking their books. The school's owner, Jean Ikenga has always supported Achieng and sometimes paid her rent. When Conjestina was in school she excelled in arts and crafts, and still pursues drawing and painting. Some of her work is displayed at Upendo Nursery in Mathare North. She said that one of her aims is to nurture young and aspiring artists. She also wanted to fight Laila Ali. "I am training hard and hope to face her in the ring. She does not sound a threat to me and I long to fight her. I will decide on whether to continue boxing or stop only after I snatch that title from her." Her promoter Caleb Kuya, a Danish based Kenyan, was equally confident but said "Conje" needs at least three more fights under her belt before she faces Ali, especially as she has boxed professionally only once outside Kenya. "She will be much better if she fights out of the country to get the feel of away matches and even jeering from other fans," he said as he outlined plans for seeking sponsorships for a potential Achieng vs. Ali showdown.

In January 2011, Conjestina's father sent an appeal to Kenyans to help him take her to hospital after her behaviour deteriorated from the norm. According to her father, Conjestina had removed her son from school, set ablaze to all her boxing gear and disposed of all the equipment from her gymnasium, which she had opened in 2009. She was admitted at the Mathari hospital in Nairobi which specialises in mental health care. She was later released. On 4 September 2012. a story ran on Citizen TV showing Conjestina in a state of confusion and utter despair. The former boxer showed off her belts. She was said to be living in poverty having not paid her Ksh 2000 ($23) rent for 4 months. She was under the care of her younger sister. Conjestina was later taken to the Mathari Hospital by Ida Odinga. A popular campaign on social media raised enough money for her to move into a more comfortable dwelling. The comedian Daniel Ndambuki (Churchill) personally donated 180,000 s to pay her rent after public pressure reminded him of a promise he had made to support her.

No. (Number)ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes27Win17 6 4 Angel McKenzieUD10, 2:0027 Feb 2010 Charter Hall, Nairobi, Kenya26Win16 6 4 Batroba LihaviTKO429 Aug 2009 Chui Restaurant, Nairobi, Kenya25Draw15 6 4 Maria LindbergPTS10, 2:008 May 2009 Royal Event Center, Spandau, Sweden24Win15 6 3 Charity MukamiUD6, 3:0028 Feb 2009 Hotel Casuarina, Buru Buru, Nairobi, Kenya23Loss14 6 3 Natascha RagosinaUD10, 2:0028 Nov 2008 Maritim Hotel, Magdeburg, Germany WBA and WBC Super middleweight titles. 22Loss14 5 3 Natascha RagosinaUD10, 2:0011 Jul 2008 Germany Rundturnhalle, Cuxhaven, Germany GBU and WIBF Super middleweight titles. 21Win14 4 3 Batroba LihaviTKO3, 1:5813 Apr 2008 Club Afrique, Nairobi, Kenya20Win13 4 3 Charity MukamiMD6, 2:008 Dec 2007 Charter Hall, Nairobi, Kenya19Win12 4 3 Emily KabwaloPTS6, 2:0014 Jul 2007 Moi International Sport Centre, Kasarani, Kenya 18Win11 4 3 Jalala SalumKO212 May 2007 Charter Hall, Nairobi, Kenya17Win10 4 3 Monica MwakasangaTKO510 Mar 2007 Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya 16Loss9 4 3 Laura RamseyTKO620 Jan 2007 Travellers Beach Hotel & Club, Mombasa, Kenya GBU Female World Middleweight title15Loss9 3 3 Janaya DavisPTS6, 2:002 Dec 2006 Moi International Sport Centre, Nairobi, Kenya 14Win9 2 3 Florence NalukwagoUD6, 2:005 Aug 2006 Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya 13Loss8 2 3 Yvonne ReisSD10, 2:001 Apr 2006 Moi International Sport Centre, Nairobi, Kenya WBC World Female Middleweight title 12Win8 1 3 Monalisa SibandaUD6, 2:004 Feb 2006 Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya 11Win7 1 3 Guillermina FernandezTKO1, 1:4224 Dec 2005 Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya WBF Women's Middleweight title10Win6 1 3 Monica MwakasangaTKO921 Aug 2005Moi International Sport Centre, Nairobi, Kenya WIBF World Middleweight title9Win5 1 3 Monica MwakasangaKO525 Mar 2005 Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya 8Win4 1 3 Fiona TugumeUD10, 2:0019 Dec 2004 Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya GBU Female Middleweight title7Loss3 1 3 Monica MwakasangaUD6, 2:0015 Nov 2004 Tripple A Hotel, Arusha, Tanzania6Win3 0 3 Fiona TugumeKO723 Oct 2004 Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, KenyaAfrica Women's Middleweight Title5Draw2 0 3 Jane KavulaniPTS4, 2:0028 Aug 2004 Jam Rescue 2 Club, Nairobi, Kenya 4Draw2 0 2 Fatuma ZarikaPTS4, 2:0013 Dec 2003 Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya 3Win2 0 1 Jane KavulaniPTS4, 2:0015 May 2003 Nairobi, Kenya2Draw1 0 1 Damaris MuthoniPTS4, 2:00Sept 9, 2002 Nairobi, Kenya1Win1 0 0 Naomi WanjikuPTS4, 2:008 Jun 2002 Nairobi, Kenya