Conjestina Achieng is seen with Kisumu Maendeleo Ya Wanawake organisation chair lady Atieno Otieno, with her is Kisumu county executive member for health Dr Elizabeth Ogaja after the former world boxing middleweight champion was discharged from hospital on Tuesday.PHOTO/courtesy
KISUMU, Kenya, Nov 29 – Former world boxing middleweight champion Conjestina Achieng has been discharged from Kisumu Sub County hospital after one month at the psychiatric section.
Speaking to the press in Kisumu after being discharged from the hospital courtesy of Kisumu Maendeleo Ya Wanawake organization, Achieng complained of neglect.
“People come to see me but they don’t tell me anything that will help me. Some promise to help me but they don’t leave to their promises. I want to thank Atieno Otieno who has been with me up to date together with my family,” Conjestina said.
Conjestina, who is fondly known as ‘Hands of Stone’ by her fans, says she has not received any financial support to help her cope up with her condition.
She thanked the organization for coming to her aid to bail her out of the hospital after the discharge.
The Maendeleo Ya Wanawake promised that the organization will not relent in its effort to assist the boxer and her family.
The organization chairlady Atieno Otieno says there is need to keep in touch with the boxer to give her moral support.
“We have been working with our sister Conjestina Achieng who is a national hero, she has heard a few challenges after being sick for over six years and we appreciate many people who have always tried to help her,” Otieno stated.
“We have realized that for Conjestina to be fine, we need to walk with her as a team constantly so me and my friends from the legal profession and Maendeleo Ya Wanawake we are working with her and her son so that we are able to see she goes through this difficult time in her life.”
Otieno promised that the organization will not relent in its effort to assist the boxer and her family.
Three years ago, Conjestina was detained in a hospital in Kisumu for failing to raise Sh500, 000, taking the intervention of friends to bail her out.
Conjestina Achieng when she was discharged from hospital in Kisumu on Tuesday.
Conjestina became the first African woman to hold an international title when she beat Ugandan Fiona Tugume to take the vacant WIBF middleweight title.
After seven amateur bouts, she made her professional debut in 2002 which earned her product endorsements.
But then disaster struck. In January 2011, Conjestina’s father sent an appeal to Kenyans to help him take her to hospital after her behaviour deteriorated from the norm.
According to the farther, Conjestina had removed her son from school, set ablaze to all her boxing gear and disposed of all the equipment from her gymnasium, which she had opened in 2009. She was admitted at the Mathari mental hospital in Nairobi and later released.
-By Ojwang Joe-
