NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has added momentum to the fast-growing hype surrounding the much-anticipated boxing bout between viral sensations Majembe and Mbavu the Destroyer, pledging Ksh1 million to each fighter ahead of their April 4, 2026 showdown in Nairobi.
The President made the surprise pledge during an interaction with Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, who briefed him on the fight that has dominated Kenyan social media discourse.
“This Majembe and Mbavu the Destroyer, I wish them well,” said Ruto with a smile. “Let them do their thing, and I will place one million for Majembe and one million for Mbavu.”
Ruto further announced that he would sponsor 2,000 tickets for Kenyan fans to attend the bout — allocating 1,000 tickets to supporters of each boxer, a move that organisers say significantly boosts public interest in the event.
From online banter to national spectacle
The bout, organised by comedian and media personality Oga Obinna, has evolved rapidly from online trash talk into what is now shaping up as one of Kenya’s most anticipated amateur boxing events.
Scheduled for April 4, 2026, the fight will take place in Nairobi, with organisers expected to announce the official venue in the coming weeks.
Obinna had earlier pledged an initial Ksh1 million winner’s prize, helping transform the contest into a serious sporting event rather than a novelty exhibition.
Celebrities and leaders join the fray
Several prominent figures have since thrown their weight behind the two fighters, further elevating the contest’s profile.
Businessman Oketch Salah pledged Ksh200,000 to support both boxers and enhance the overall prize pool, while Jalang’o publicly declared his support for Mbavu the Destroyer.
Award-winning rapper Khaligraph Jones, meanwhile, endorsed Majembe, aligning himself with the boxer whose viral clips first sparked the trend.
Nairobi’s Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, also offered to personally train Mbavu the Destroyer in preparation for the bout.
Speaking during a TikTok live session on Sunday, February 8, 2026, Mosiria revealed that he had personally enrolled Mbavu in a gym and assigned him a personal trainer, ensuring he gets proper preparation ahead of the fight.
He said that Mbavu will not go back to his past job, where he worked as a construction worker, and that the mentorship and support he is receiving will provide him with both a career path and a stable livelihood.
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“Huyu jamaa atarudi kwa mjengo? Sio shida. Lakini mwisho wa game, nitamchunga. Atakuwa bodyguard wangu,” he said.
Jalang’o, who has played a central role in promoting the match, welcomed the President’s backing, as the two echoed the bout’s popular rallying cry, “weka mawe!”
How the hype began
Interest in amateur boxing surged in late 2025, when videos of Majembe showcasing his boxing skills while openly calling out challengers went viral on TikTok.
The online momentum attracted several would-be opponents, but it was Mbavu the Destroyer, another TikTok personality, whose challenge captured public attention, setting the stage for a clash that has since blurred the lines between sport, entertainment and digital culture.
Analysts say the bout reflects a broader shift in Kenya’s entertainment industry, where social media influence increasingly translates into mainstream sporting and commercial opportunities, drawing in sponsors, politicians and mass audiences alike.
