Veronica Mbithe: Career soldier, boxer following in the footsteps of Olympian Waruinge

Mbithe’s mother, Eunice Nziva, worked tirelessly to provide for her family, running a saloon kiosk in Muthurwa market.

Despite her hard work, young Veronica was left largely unsupervised, which led her down a difficult road. "I would stay for a week without bathing and never wore dresses or skirts, just t-shirts, shorts, and trousers,” she recalls.

Her primary school years at Sanford (formerly Land Mawe Primary School) and CGHU Primary in Nairobi were filled with rebellion.

Along with a group of boys, Mbithe would engage in mischievous activities like stealing scrap metal from the rail lines to sell for money.

She and her gang would also sneak into the nearby Marikiti market, stealing groceries and often evading capture.

These acts of defiance became a way of life for her, as she tried to navigate the difficult circumstances of her youth.

Despite the challenges, Mbithe’s mother never abandoned her children. Although often working late, she always ensured there was food on the table. “She sometimes came home after we had already gone to bed,” Mbithe recalls.

“But she never left us without food. We would take things from a nearby shop, and she would pay later.”

Mbithe was the first-born of four children, with two brothers and two sisters. Her mother, seeing the dangerous path Veronica was heading down, grew increasingly concerned.

When Mbithe first showed an interest in football, her mother strongly disapproved. She feared that being involved with boys would lead Veronica into trouble.

This tension continued when Mbithe joined St. Catherine of Sienna (formerly Gaturi Girls High School) in Murang’a.

Although Mbithe excelled in football, playing as a striker and reaching the provincial level, her home life remained chaotic. “I returned home to the same environment when schools closed, and things didn’t look good,” she says.

In 2013, after completing high school, Mbithe’s life took a turn when she discovered boxing. A group of her friends started attending boxing matches at Dallas Boxing Club, based in the Muthurwa Estate, and Mbithe decided to join them.

“Most of the girls I played football with moved on to other things, and that’s what motivated me to attend boxing matches,” she explains.

Under the guidance of coach Charles Mukula, Mbithe trained for two months before stepping into the ring in April 2014. Her first opponent was the renowned female boxer, Sonko Msoto.

Unfortunately, Mbithe was defeated in the first round. “My mother was angry that I had taken up a boys’ sport. She feared I could get injured,” Mbithe recalls.

Despite this early setback, Mbithe’s passion for boxing only grew. “It was in Kaloleni where I met more female boxers, and that inspired me more,” she says.

She later met Sonko Msoto again in a rematch at Dallas Club, where Mbithe emerged victorious.

“I had an adrenaline rush because I didn’t want to disappoint my fans. I went the full length and was declared the winner unanimously. That win officially launched my boxing career,” Mbithe reflects.

This victory also marked the end of Msoto’s career as she decided to quit boxing after the defeat.

Mbithe’s success continued as she progressed through the ranks. She competed in the intermediate and novice championships and made her way to the national league in 2015. Her talent soon caught the attention of Colonel Paul Mung’ori, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) boxing team chairman, who recruited her into the forces in March 2018.

“We saw great potential in her after closely following her progress in the national league. We also care about gender equality, and she came at the right time,” Mung’ori says.

Mbithe, now a corporal in the KDF, has since achieved remarkable success in her career. In November 2023, she won silver in the light flyweight category at the Africa Military Games in Abuja, Nigeria, after losing to Nigeria’s Caroline Linus in the final.

This achievement has fueled her ambition to reach greater heights, particularly in Olympic boxing. Mbithe is determined to match or even surpass the legendary Philip Waruinge’s achievements.

Waruinge, a product of Dallas Boxing Club, made history as the first Kenyan to win an Olympic boxing medal, earning bronze in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and silver in 1972.

“Winning that medal after many attempts is a clear indication that nothing is impossible. I want to make history as the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic medal,” says Mbithe.

Her sights are set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and she believes that if Waruinge made it from Dallas, so can she.

“Waruinge made it from Dallas, and I can too,” she says. Before that, Mbithe aims to qualify for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Mbithe’s boxing career began with obstacles, including her first appearance for Kenya at the 2018 World Championships in India, where she lost in the first round.

She qualified for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games but missed out on the games due to her recruitment by the KDF. She returned to the World Championships in 2023, where she lost in the round of 32.

Through all these setbacks, Mbithe remains resolute. “If not for boxing, I would be something else,” she reflects. “When I look at myself, I consider it a miracle considering the life I went through as a kid.” Despite growing up in an environment where she was surrounded by boys and involved in risky activities, Mbithe never faced harassment.

Today, she is determined to encourage more girls to take up the sport. “I want to demystify the narrative that boxing is a sport for men only,” she says.

Mbithe is also advocating for more support for women’s boxing in Kenya. She hopes to see the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) National League become more exciting and competitive, with the introduction of prize money.

“Her weight category may not have many boxers, but her achievements in Abuja will inspire her to greater heights,” says Mung’ori.