Where is he now? Former Kibera tennis star who made Davis Cup history

As Kenya welcomed the 2026 Davis Cup tournament this week, one of the country's most trailblazing tennis figures was among those receiving recognition for his contribution to the sport.

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Jamin Luvembe Esikumo, widely regarded as the first player from Kibera to represent Kenya at the Davis Cup, was honoured for his dedication to tennis more than a decade after he made history on the continental stage.

Luvembe's story remains one of perseverance, talent, and determination. From Nairobi's Kibera informal settlement, he defied the odds to become a national team player and inspire a generation of young tennis enthusiasts from underprivileged backgrounds.

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His crowning moment came in 2013 when he was selected to represent Kenya at the Davis Cup Africa Zone Group III tournament in Cairo, Egypt. The achievement made him the first player from Kibera to wear the national colours at the prestigious team competition.

The left-handed player was named in a four-man squad alongside Mohammed Fazal Khan, Ibrahim Kibet Yego, and Kevin Cheruiyot. Kenya faced some of the continent's strongest tennis nations, including Egypt, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and Nigeria, on the outdoor clay courts of the Smash Tennis Academy.

For many aspiring players from disadvantaged communities, Luvembe's selection was proof that talent could triumph regardless of background.

His journey to the national team began at Sadili Sports Academy in Nairobi, where he developed into one of Kenya's most promising junior players. During his formative years, he rose through the ranks to become the Africa Cup No. 2 player in his age category and also won the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) doubles title.

Luvembe was a consistent performer on the ITF/CAT African Junior Circuit, regularly finishing among the continent's top prospects. One of his standout performances saw him secure third place at a regional Under-19 tournament, recording emphatic 6-0 victories over local rivals along the way.

His impressive performances earned him a place among Kenya's elite players and eventually led to his historic Davis Cup call-up.

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Luvembe gradually stepped away from professional competition after competing at the highest level locally and internationally, including participation in the 2014 Kenya Open. His passion for sports and creativity has, however, remained intact.

Today, he has built a life that combines coaching and artistic pursuits in Mombasa.

"I coach tennis in Mombasa; I have some schools that I am coaching. I do audio production, I am a record producer, video editor; I do anything artistic. I can sing.

I am an artist, but I do more production than I do art. I like the production bit of it, and very soon you will see my music,” Luvembe told Mozzart Sport.

Despite stepping away from competitive tennis, he continues to closely monitor the local scene and is encouraged by the talent emerging in the country.

When asked which current player reminds him most of himself, Luvembe pointed to Kenya's rising stars.

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"Ismael Changawa. I have played with him, and he is like the one I know best because I have played with him for a very long time. I see myself in him when I see him playing for sure. Even Zayyan Virani is playing well,” he said.

On Thursday, 18 June, Changawa won his singles match against Botswana’s Mark Nawa in straight sets of 6–3, 6–1.

According to Luvembe, comparisons between his era and the current generation should be viewed within the context of a changing cycle in the sport.

"I would not say tennis has evolved very much because at that time we had this generation that was leaving, so this is a new generation that is coming up.

It takes time for a new generation to come up, and we are giving these young ones a chance to grow. It takes some time,” he explained.