Conjestina Achieng: Worrying update on boxing great months after appearing to be on the mend

Boxing great Conjestina Achieng is still struggling to get back on her feet, months after she was promised a job when she left hospital.

Conjestina was discharged from the Mombasa Women Empowerment Network Hospital in June last year after a one-year successful rehabilitation from a mental illness courtesy of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.

Upon her release, Sonko said she would now work as the gym instructor and head of security at Mombasa’s Salama Bling Beach resort and would not be allowed to go back to her home in Siaya County unless on a family visit and under strict supervision.

However, according to media personality Carol Radull, ‘Conje’ is back in Siaya and not doing so well.

“On 2nd Jan I visited my friend Conjestina Achieng in her shags in Yala. She's been there about 2 months and is back to her same lifestyle. She has good days and bad days,” Radull posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“When I arrived, she was having a bad day but her face lit up when she saw me and we chatted for a long time as best we could. I tried with my layman ability to gently encourage her to "clean up her act".

“Many have tried to help her but none of us have succeeded in a long-term solution to her predicament. I concede it's out of my capability.

“What I can do though is be her friend. Visit her when I can. Call her mum from time to time to check in on them.”

It is a worrying update on the former boxer who seemed to be on the mend when she left hospital. At the time, she was beaming and even had an exhibition bout against former WBC super-bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika in Mombasa.

“My initial plan for Conje after healing was to employ her as the head of security operations at the international Club Volume but changed my mind after thinking through what she has gone through before on drug and substance abuse. I don't want her around any environment associated with drugs,” Sonko posted on social media last June.

“Conje will be the gym instructor and head security at Salama Bling Beach Resort, Kanamai. Together with her sister, coach, and son, we inspected the hotel that she'll be working at and they all agreed. She will now be making a living in order to support her family, but we have agreed that she will not go back to Siaya. She will only be going there to visit family under supervision,” he added.

The 46-year-old, whose record includes 17 wins (8KO), four draws, and six losses, has been in and out of hospital since she was diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder in 2011.

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