In 2016, Queen of Katwe introduced us to the world of chess, love, and the power of a young girl to make her vision a reality through hard work and the support of her community. In Mukuru kwa Njenga slums, there rises yet another chess queen who has been raking up gold medals ever since she started participating in tournaments. All hail, Queen of Mukuru, Sarah Momanyi.
Before Sarah was ever recognized as a chess queen, her mother gave birth to her in the tight quarters of their home. The baby girl entered into a challenging environment without her father present, and after a while, her mother would go to dangerous extremes simply to make ends meet. Fortunately, Sarah’s grandmother, Christine Kibagendi, stepped in before things went too far.
As a young girl with her Shosh, Sarah’s genius began to shine early on in life. With a confident, quiet demeanor, the young girl began to learn the opening sequences of chess. Her gaze betrays no close scrutiny, but the girl’s powers of observation and composure were phenomenal strengths for the player she was becoming. To cover their living expenses, Shosh would sell curios, everything from Kenyan flag bracelets to soapstone carvings. It is here that she found the bits and pieces of discarded soapstone, which she eventually used to fashion a chessboard for her granddaughter.
Shosh’s support and the fast-growing chess capabilities made it evident that the only way for Sarah was up. Every match that she’d play ended in her victory. Every player defeated left the board with established respect for the Queen of Mukuru. Without boasting or undermining herself, Sarah gained experience as a chess player which led to her first official win in the ‘12 and under’ category of the Kenya National Youth Chess Championship of 2018.
In April of 2019, the ‘14 and under’ category was introduced to the excellence of Sarah Momanyi. Currently, Sarah hopes to attend (and shine) at international tournaments, many of which she has been invited to. Her hope shines from the coolness of the girl who says she aspires to work as a surgeon.
Nonetheless, today she dissects the chessboard, ensuring success with the hours she continually invests in the game of chess. We are delighted by the fortitude of this queen and we sincerely hope that in time, the star of this Paukwa spirited girl can rise to the level of numerous sports greats in the country.