From Kibera Boxing Club to the national stage — a Kenyan boxer, journalist, and artist building a new life through sport.
Amina’s story is a hard one — and that’s exactly why it matters. She grew up around violence and instability, started working young to help her family survive, and only found boxing in her mid-twenties. Since then, she’s turned the ring into a place to heal, rebuild, and lead.
“I grew up in a violent and broken family. It was terrible.”
HER STORY
As a girl, Amina saw what violence can do to a home. Her mother eventually left, and Amina learned early that “normal” is something you fight to create. She worked alongside school to help cover basics and keep moving forward — not because it was inspiring, but because there was no alternative.
THE TURNING POINT
Amina didn’t grow up in boxing gyms. She entered boxing at 26, after years of carrying trauma and stress with nowhere to put it. Training became the release valve — a way to turn pressure into discipline, and pain into momentum. Not long after, she began climbing fast: training harder, showing up consistently, and earning her place in the sport.
THE CLIMB
2019 — Introduced to boxing; commits seriously to training
2021 — Breakthrough year: makes the national team and is recognized as Kenya’s best female boxer that year
2023 — Chases Olympic qualification while continuing to build her platform beyond sport
2024 — Wins a historic medal for Kenya at the African Games in Accra, even after a shoulder dislocation ended her semi-final early
2025 — Competes at the world championships level, continuing to push into elite competition
BEYOND BOXING
Amina is also a trained journalist and a working creative. She’s developed skills in fitness and bodywork (including massage), and she paints — often focusing on women and the emotions people are forced to bury. On social media, she shares encouragement for others going through heavy periods, especially girls and young women who feel alone.
TRAINING ROOTS
Along the way, she’s trained and been guided by mentors in Nairobi’s boxing community — including Benson Gicharu at Mukuru Fight-4-Life club — and she remains closely linked to community boxing pathways.
FOLLOW AMINA
Instagram: – @amina.martha
Facebook: – Amina Martha
TikTok: @23magichands
X: martha_amina
PRESS & FEATURES
People Daily — “Kenyan boxer Amina Martha, survivor of abusive home, pursues Olympics qualification” (Sept 2023)
Citizen Digital — “Coach Musa agonised by gallant Martha’s injury at African Games” (Mar 2024)
The Star — “Amina punches her way to semi-finals in Accra Ghana” (Mar 2024)
Pulse Sports — “Mixed fortunes… as Amina Martha advances” (Mar 2024)
Olympics.com — Feature profile on Amina’s journey (Sept 2023)
The Standard — Coverage of Kenya at the World Women’s Boxing Championships (Mar 2025)
Amina’s career is still being written — but the direction is clear: forward. She’s proof that it’s never “too late” to start, and that talent can come from anywhere when someone finally gets a chance.