Gloves of Hope: Coach Otieno’s mission to rescue lost youth through boxing
In the heart of Majengo, where drugs and crime lure idle youth, one man is using boxing gloves as tools of transformation. This is the story of Coach Abdul Rashid Otieno, whose gritty mission to save "lost souls" is rewriting destinies - one punch at a time
On a dusty patch of ground near the Nairobi River, the thud of gloves meeting pads echoes through the air. There are no ropes, no ring, and no professional equipment - just determination, sweat, and the quiet discipline of a group of young men who’ve chosen a new path.
At the heart of this unlikely training camp is Abdul Rashid Otieno - known to many simply as Uncle B - a former boxer turned community coach. His gym has no walls, but his mission is solid: to pull lost youth away from drugs and crime, and guide them toward purpose through boxing.
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Born Benard Otieno Ochieng in Kitui Village, Majengo, within Nairobi’s Kamukunji Constituency, Otieno has seen what hopelessness can do to a community. After converting to Islam, he took the name Abdul Rashid Otieno and dedicated himself to mentoring young people in the very streets that shaped him.
“Most of these boys come to me and say, ‘Uncle B, I want to change - train me,’” he says. “You know, one soul saved is one generation saved. And one lost? The opposite is true.”
Otieno’s work began as a personal response to the growing wave of substance abuse and idleness he saw among youth in Eastleigh and Majengo. What started as informal training sessions has slowly evolved into a powerful movement - young people turning punches into purpose, channeling aggression into discipline.
“Living in the streets requires toughness,” he explains. “Boxing helps the youth grow not just physically, but also mentally. When a young person learns they can defend themselves with their hands, they’re less likely to carry a knife. It’s a way of saving lives.”
But Coach Otieno’s impact goes beyond the physical. He’s not afraid to go where others won’t - venturing into neglected corners of the community, determined to reach those who’ve been written off.
“I go to places others fear - places an ordinary person wouldn’t dare enter. That’s where I want to be. That’s where I can spark something and change the narrative around these young men.”
Despite his passion, the journey is full of challenges. There’s a critical lack of training gear, gloves, punching bags - even stable ground to train on. The youths often practise in a makeshift clearing near the river, or rotate through informal spaces depending on availability.
Still, Otieno soldiers on.
One of his most promising trainees is Shem Onyango, a soft-spoken middleweight hopeful who credits the coach with transforming his life.
“I wasn’t a good person, per se,” Onyango admits. “But the need to change led me to Coach Otieno. He’s been guiding me, training me. Now, I’m very ambitious with boxing. I want to reach the top. My message to my peers is simple: anyone can reform, no matter the circumstance.”
He adds, “We’re making use of our idle time - even with the little our coach has.”
Coach Rashid Otieno training Shem Onyango at Kamukunji grounds (C) Justine Ondieki
In a neighbourhood where hardship often overshadows hope, Coach Otieno’s boxing sessions are more than just training - they are a lifeline. They offer structure, belonging, and the belief that it’s never too late to start again.
And as the gloves slap against worn pads once more, it's not just the sound of training - it’s the sound of a fight. A fight not just for titles, but for dignity, for redemption, and for a future rewritten one punch at a time.
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