Robert Napunyi Wangila is still the only Kenyan Olympic Boxing gold medalist even 22 years after his death. He was a celebrated Kenyan boxer who won gold medal in 1988 summer Olympic games. He was born and raised in
Jericho estate in Nairobi.
You need to know these facts about Wangila.
10. He died in 1994 after succumbing to injuries from their fight with David Gonzalez in Las Vegas USA. He collapsed and lapsed into a comma at the dressing room. He later died after 26 hours.
9. He was a man of tribal combination. His mother was a Kisii, his father a Luhya and he married a Luo wife.
8. There was controversy over his burial place. His mother Eunice Moraa wanted him to be buried in Kisii, his uncles wanted him buried in Busia while the Muslim clerics wanted him buried in accordance to his religion.
7. He was born a Christian but he later converted to Muslim. He was influenced by his friend who took him to U.S.A Mr Akhbar Mohammed.
6. He was buried at Kariokor Muslim Cemetery. Both Kisii complainants represented by lawyer Charles Nyachae and Busia complainants represented by lawyer John Khaminwa lost the case.
5. He started his boxing career in Kenya Breweries Boxing Club.
4. Before becoming a professional boxer, he was working as a truck driver for the Kenya Breweries.
3. He won his first gold medal in the All African Games in 1987.
2. In U.S.A he was referred to as the ‘kidd’, since he was in his early twenties.
1. The case of his burial place involved many prominent lawyers in Kenya. Charles Nyachae, Willy Mutunga, Nancy Baraza, John Khaminwa and Justice Hayenga.
By Felix Vincent.
