Having proved his mettle against both the deaf and able-bodied players, Kenyan deaf golfer Isaac Makokha believes his moment of glory on the global stage has finally arrived.
The 33-year-old, father of one, is among four golfers set to represent Kenya at the Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics that start on Saturday next week.
Riding on the historic bronze medal he won at the 2022 Summer Deaflympics in Brazil and the numerous triumphs over able-bodied golfers, Makokha is confident of making history once again by clinching Kenya’s first gold medal in golf at the quadrennial multi-sport event.
“In the last Deaflympics in Brazil, I managed to get a bronze medal. This time, I’m confident I will get a gold medal. I’m on fire right now, and there is no doubt I'm ready to get the gold medal,” declared Makokha after a training session at Vet Lab Golf Club in Nairobi.
By winning a bronze at the 2022 Games in Brazil, Makokha etched his name in the history books as the first Kenyan to win a medal in golf at the event. He achieved the milestone by defeating German Guldan Nico.
Although Makokha admitted that the reigning Deaflympics’ gold medallist, German John Allen, remains a major threat, he noted that his confidence of winning a gold medal in Tokyo is fuelled by his good preparations. These include applying lessons learnt from Brazil and competing in several tournaments that featured able-bodied golfers. In September, Makokha floored several able-bodied golfers, including the defending champion Michael Karanga, to win the 2025 NCBA Railway Invitation golf title at the par-72 Kenya Railway Golf Club.
“I learnt several lessons from Brazil which I have applied in my game. I’m ready for the gold medal,” said the ex-Kenya amateur match play champion.
“I have won in several tournaments that I have competed in. Playing against the tough opponents in the tournaments has prepared me for Tokyo,” he added.
Team Kenya deaf golf coach David Kihara backed Makokha to shine in the Games, saying, “He has trained very well and competed in several tough tournaments. I think this time around, he is ready to bring us something bigger than the bronze medal.”
Born deaf in Chakalini in Kakamega County, Makokha developed an interest in golf at the age of 12 while at Eldoret Golf Club, where his father John Makokha Kubwa worked.
To qualify for the Tokyo Deaflympics, he beat 15 other local deaf golfers in the stroke play before triumphing in the match play. “He (Allen) is a strong opponent, but I’m ready to face him head-on. I can manage to knock him out,” he stated, singling out his strength and flexibility as some of the areas he is fine-tuning ahead of the event.
He said lack of equipment is one of the main challenges he is grappling with in the sport. At the Tokyo Deaflympics, Kenya will also participate in athletics, men’s handball, women’s basketball and swimming.
