Bathsheba Ogamba and Evans Mundia flew the Kenyan flag high at the World Tennis-Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) 14-and-Under Circuit – Kenya I and Kenya II tournaments which concluded on the clay courts of Parklands Sports Club in Nairobi on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
Ogamba, who recently returned from France where she underwent high-performance training and competed in tournaments, completed a successful campaign with gold in the Kenya I singles and doubles events before adding a silver medal in the Kenya II singles competition.
The second seed went down fighting 6-1, 6-0 in the hands of top seed Ruvarashe Kimberly Makunike of Zimbabwe in the Kenya II singles final on Sunday.
Ogamba, fondly known as Sheba, received a first-round bye before trouncing Malawi’s Maisie Stewart 6-1, 6-0, Tanzania’s Godlove Shayo 6-0, 6-1 and compatriot Imani Kavuisya 6-0, 6-4 to book her place in the final.
Mukanike reached the championship match after beating Kenyans M. Orendo 6-1, 6-1 and Hilena Kendi Brook 6-2, 6-0 before seeing off South Africa’s Olivia Botha 6-0, 6-3.
Ogamba, however, finished the second leg on a high after teaming up with compatriot Paula Ouko to win the doubles title. The top seeds humbled Botha and Mukanike 6-2, 6-4 in the final.
Sheba's Kenya II performance came after an impressive showing in Kenya I, where she captured the singles title with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Botha in the final. She also partnered Ouko to win the doubles crown.
Reflecting on her Kenya I success, Ogamba noted that the tournament had provided valuable preparation for her upcoming assignments.
“I am generally really happy with the results. This victory means a lot because I really wanted to win it in order to prepare for the upcoming tournament, so these points are really important for me,” she explained.
Ogamba described her final as tough, revealing that her opponent's aggressive approach tested her.
“The girl was really aggressive, but I managed to neutralize her game. The toughest moment was when I was 0-5 down, but I never gave up. God really helped me to come back.”
She added that she was surprised to complete the comeback after falling five games behind.
“I did not believe I could come back and cover the 0-5 gap because it was huge. I was just happy to finish and reserve my energy for the next match.”
Ogamba credited her parents for playing the biggest role in her tennis journey, saying they provide everything she needs and are “literally my sponsors.”
She also said the tournament taught her that every player must be respected.
“Every player is a great player and for you to be able to compete you must bring your best game,” she observed.
Ogamba will now turn her attention to Morocco, where she plans to compete in a Level 1 tournament.
“I would like to perform really good,” she said.
Mundia also enjoyed a highly productive fortnight, winning gold in the doubles in both Kenya I and Kenya II while settling for silver in the Kenya II singles.
The second seed lost 6-3, 6-2 to Zimbabwean top seed Roshane Gede in the Kenya II singles final after an impressive run.
Mundia opened his campaign by outclassing compatriots Khyle Rajiv Shah 6-0, 6-1 and Peter Mutuku 6-0, 6-1. He then trounced eighth seed Daniel Kiliani of Tanzania 6-0, 6-2 before overcoming Tunisia’s Ben Romdhane 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-final.
Gede proved too strong in the final, ending Mundia’s singles title hopes.
Mundia, however, partnered Gede to victory in the doubles, with the top seeds seeing off fourth seeds Lewis Onyango and Romdhane 6-2, 6-4 in the final.
The Mundia-Gede combination had also won the doubles title in the opening Kenya I tournament.
Romdhane claimed the Kenya I singles title, while no Kenyan boy managed to advance beyond the quarter-final stage in the opening tournament.
For Mundia, the Nairobi circuit was an important step in his development.
“The CAT 14 and Under Nairobi circuit was amazing. Winning gold in both leg one and leg two doubles and silver in leg two singles feels great,” he said.
“It was a great learning opportunity. I have gained more experience and confidence which I will take into my next upcoming tournament.”
The performances by Ogamba and Mundia underlined Kenya’s growing depth in the junior ranks, with both players gaining valuable international exposure against competitors from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Tunisia, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi on home soil.
