Kenya's Leila: Her Rise to Top Referee Status Was No Walk in the Park

Leila Said Iddi has made history as East Africa's first female boxing referee to earn International Boxing Association (IBA) Star 3 status, placing her among only five Kenyan officials to have ever reached this level of distinction.

The achievement carries enormous weight for African boxing. With the Star 3 badge, Iddi is now cleared to take the scorecard at the world's biggest boxing stages, including World Boxing Championships, World Cups, and the Olympic Games. She joins an exclusive club of Kenyan boxing officials — Nelson Otieno, Samuel Obiero, Edward Mwaura, and Steve Ndung'u — all of whom have held IBA Star 3-Referee/Judge status since independence.

The Mombasa-based official did not come into boxing through the conventional route. Her entry into the sport was sparked by her children — one who boxes competitively and another who trains in taekwondo. Watching them push their limits drew her into gym training herself, and from there she transitioned into becoming a technical official in the sport.

Speaking about what it took to reach this milestone, Iddi did not shy away from acknowledging the grit involved. In her own words, success in refereeing "requires patience, dedication and decisiveness if not passion to attain all these achievements plus an understanding and loving partner." Those are not empty words — her journey has already included officiating at serious continental competitions, among them the Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Tanzania Women Boxing Championships.

Behind every great official is a support structure, and Iddi's is firmly rooted in family. A mother of four sons, she has had to navigate the demands of international officiating alongside the responsibilities of home life. Her husband has been a cornerstone of that balance, going as far as sponsoring some of her travel expenses for national assignments — a contribution she acknowledges with evident gratitude.

With her Star 3 status now confirmed, Iddi has her sights set firmly on what comes next. She is pursuing appointments to international assignments across the continent and beyond, and given the ground she has already covered, few would bet against her securing them. Her story is a reminder that Kenyan sporting excellence is not always found inside the ropes — sometimes the official calling the action is the one who truly deserves recognition.