Kenya Karate Federation ( KKF) concluded their season opener on Sunday during an event dubbed Elite Warrior Karate Open Championship at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
Speaking on Sunday from the competition's venue, federation president Eng. Richard Binga emphasised the need for the tournament, saying that it served as a warm-up to the season, as athletes had not competed last year.
"This is our 2026 beginner. I am glad that we had athletes from all over the country taking part in this two-day event, with some coming from Nairobi, Murang'a, Nakuru, Kajiado, Uasin Gishu and Kiambu Counties," Binga told Radio Generation.
"From here, they go back to their clubs and work hard with all eyes focused on the Kenya Open next, in Nairobi at Kasarani," added Binga.
Mully Children's Home won Gold in the male Junior category of the Team Kata, while Arrow Head Karate Club won a silver with Kaizen Junior Karate Academy and Swift Eagle Karate Club both winning a bronze medal each after tying on points in an event that also saw Mully winning Gold again in the ladies category and Kaizen taking home a silver.
Mully was dominant again in the Cadets Category of the males, Swift Eagle winning Silver and Kaizen settling for a bronze, with the same order repeating itself in the ladies category, only for this time to see Kipepeo School taking home bronze.
National team stalwart, 24-year-old Severlyn Wekesa won Gold in the female Kumite 68 kgs Category while representing Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Impala's Linda Were came in second, while Samantha Ambani of Kaizen and Sherly Nyalala of Parklands won bronze each.
The over 68 kgs Category of the Female Kumite had Kenya Police Service ( KPS) Lydia Ooko winning Gold, Sheila Amondi of KNH settling for a Silver, even as her teammate Vella Emodia won a Bronze medal, same as Everline Ochieng of Maji House.
The female category of the 50 kgs Kumite was won by KPS' Mary Sibota, KNH's Sharon Nzisa coming in second, and Juliet Musenya of Impala settling for third, while Impala's Georgina Kanini won the same category of above 55 kg, Anna Bosensera of KNH, Silver, Flavian Kemunto of Arrowhead and Helida Juma of KNH each a Bronze.
David Ngati of Maji House emerged the winner of the Male Kata category, Impala's Kennedy Kioko won Silver, and Julius Muya of Maji House and Victor Mwenza of Kaizen both grabbed a Bronze each.
Georgina Kanini of Impala came alive again in the female Kata, winning Gold in an event that saw Mercy Wambui from Maji House winning Silver, Lydia Ooko of KPS and Juliet Musenya of Impala each winning a Bronze.
The veterans aged 65 years and above participated in the Individual Kata, where Fredrick Kenyatta won Gold, Yusuf Bakari and David Okomo won Silver and Bronze, respectively.
The other veteran category involved the Males aged 55 years, still in the Kata, an event that had Stephen Wesonga winning Gold, David Kimani- Silver, and both Paul Kamau and Laurent Idrissa winning Bronze each.
The female category of the veterans, 55 years, still in the Kata, saw Joseline Nyakoa win Gold, Elizabeth Joan Silver, Lucy Karobia and Stella Musyoka each going home with a Bronze.
According to Federation President Richard Binga, the athletes will go back and train as they prepare for the Kenya Karate Open Championship next, coming on March 28, 2026, at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani ( MISC), a championship that will be used to select athletes for the regional East Africa Karate championships and the Africa Karate Championships later in the year.
