Former Kenyan boxing legend Congetina Achieng is not dead and is continuing with her medication at the Mombasa Women Empowerment Network Hospital in Miritini, Mombasa.
Rumours started going round on social media since last week that Conjestina had passed on.
Conjestina herself said that she was ‘fit as a fiddle’ and rubbished those saying she is dead.
“I am going on well with my treatment and everything is okay. Those who are saying that I am dead, well I’m not. I am very much alive,” said Conjestina.
She said that it was wrong for people to spread fake news that she is dead.
“It is very wrong for someone to say that someone is dead yet they are not. They need to control their tongues and understand the meaning of what they are saying before spreading it,” Conjestina said.
Former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko, at the weekend paid her a visit at the facility to dispel rumours that she is dead.
“Those who are saying that Conje is dead, she is not, she is still with us and is doing fine. She had small challenges but she is well taken care of,” said Sonko.
He had gone to check on her as well as donate boxing equipment and pledge to continue supporting her and making follow ups on her condition until she is better.
Sonko brought her boxing gear and equipment to continue training.
“I heard that she wants to continue with her training, that’s why I brought her this equipment. We will encourage her to train her female colleagues,” Sonko said.
He blamed the government for neglecting her despite making Kenya proud in the boxing ring during her prime.
He said that Conjestina’s life had remained a pity. “The government has not been serious about our sportsmen and women and our artists. Many of our freedom fighters and heroes have been neglected and are living poorly”.
Amina Abdalla, the Chairperson of Mombasa Women Empowerment Network, said that Congestina’s health had improved, saying that she had advanced to stage two of her treatment.
“We are done with one of her treatments and we say that she is now stable. We are now going to the next step where we will allow her to do co-curricular activities like sports,” said Abdalla.
Abdalla said that from the stage she is, she will go to step three where she will be allowed to do more intense exercises.
She said that she will remain in the facility for the next six months before she is finally released to go home.
“Dispel the rumours, Conje is going on well with her medication and she is fine. We have high hopes she will make a full recovery,” she said.
Conjestina was admitted to the institution in early July after her health and mental status deteriorated.
Sonko came to her aid after pictures of her suffering on the streets in Siaya emerged and caused uproar on social media.
He personally took it to himself to drive her and admit her at the Institution.
This was after Conjestina’s elder son, Charlton Otieno, texted him asking him to intervene and help his mother whose health was getting worse.
This is one of the many efforts the former governor has made to restore the health and dignity of the boxing legend.
In the past, Sonko took Conjestina to several rehabilitation centres, including Nairobi County Rehabilitation Centres, Parklands, and Diani Beach among others.
Conjestina had a promising career in boxing, winning medals and flying the Kenyan flag high, before she became mentally ill and settled down at her Siaya home.
Sometime last year, reports emerged that she had burnt down her house in Siaya.
By Hussein Abdullahi
