Zarika Njeri alias "Fatuma Zarika" was born in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1985. She grew up in the sprawling estates of Riruta satellite before she moved to Mathare North estate after her mother passed away. While at Mathare estate, she grew interest in boxing where she viewed it as a way of passing time and started training at mathare 4A gym under coach Oksimba in the year 1999.

After competing as an amateur, she turned professional in 2000 where she won several local fights. She started viewing boxing as a way of income for her family and from there she took it seriously.

Her first fight abroad came in 2005, where she traveled to Denmark to face Frida Walberg for the WIBF Junior Lightweight title.  Team Njeri told WBAN, "Being a bantamweight, she admits it was hard to make it to super featherweight [junior lightweight], but she tried her best but lost on points."

WBAN reported at the time of this fight, that the bout took place on June 17, 2005, at the SAS Radisson, in Aarhus, Denmark.  Frida Wallberg, 130, of Gothenburg, Sweden, remained undefeated after a 99-92, 99-91, and 99-91 win over Zarika Fatuma [Njeri], 125 ¼. Wallberg won the WIBF Junior Lightweight Intercontinental title. According to a local report, it was reported that the fight was a "tough" fight, where Wallberg got the upper hand by using her left jab and right hook well, but Fatuma remained dangerous and countered well.

On June 18, 2005, WBAN ran a story on Njeri when Walberg alleged that Njeri had "bit" her during their match.  Link to story This was not a good year for Njeri in regards to our coverage of her,  as WBAN recognized her as the "Dirtiest Fighter of the year in our Annual 2005 Yearly Awards. Link to Awards

Team Njeri said, "Later in the year, she traveled to Hungary to face Bettina Csabi for the WIBF-GBU bantamweight world title where she believes the fight was 50-50, but was given to the home girl."

Csabi fighting Njeri - Full Photo Gallery #287

WBAN reported that on September 10, 2005, at the Fönix Sport Center, in Debrecen, Hungary, in the co-main-event on the card, the "Hungarian Box princess" Dr. Bettina Csabi, 116.5, won a 10-round unanimous decision and retained her WIBF-GBU Bantamweight title when she defeated Kenyan Zarrika Fatuma [Njeri], 118. According to JollyDee of Hungary,  he said that Csabi outpointed Fatuma [Njeri] throughout the bout, and that the fight was not remarkable or spectacular, because Fatuma committed fouls throughout the match. Final scoring was: Imre Nagy (HUN) 98:93, Venciclav Nikolov (BUL) 98:92, Ernst Salzgeber (AUT) 99:94."

The following year, On May 27, 2006, in Munich, Germany, Njeri traveled to Germany to fight for the WIBF featherweight title against Ina Menzer. Team Njeri said, "She admits the fight was a bit hard but the decision went against her and she lost on points."  Menzer won by a 10-round majority decision, with the final judges scores of  97-94, 98-93 and 97-97.

On July 30, 2006,  in Nairobi, Kenya, Zarika Njeri (Fatuma) won by TKO2 over Monalisa Sibanda. A release from JabJab Promotions wrote the following: "Kenya’s new boxing sensation Fatuma Zarika Njeri stopped Zimbabwe’s Monalisa Sibanda in a non-title fight at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium. Many boxing fans had expected Zarika to lose the bout as Monalisa had impressed earlier in the year when she stretched Women’s WBF Middleweight Champion Conjestina Achieng only to lose on points. There were concerns that since Monalisa had fought at Middleweight against Conjestina, Zarika had no chance against her even though the Zimbabwean had shed almost 10 kgs to make the super featherweight category. Zarika who was largely unknown before the game impressed with her piston style blows and surprised the full house when she floored Sibanda in the first round. Sibanda recovered to finish the round. However a minute into the second round after a fifty-fifty exchange between the ladies, Zarika cornered her opponent at the white corner with a barrage of hard punches. Sibanda went down on her knees and referee, Vedo Okumu stopped the fight."

Sibanda had said in a post fight interview,  “I am not disheartened by the loss, boxing is a sport and I lose honourably, it was her day and I will live to win another day."

As reported on WBAN at the time of this fight, on November 12, 2006, at the Grand Regency Hotel, in Nairobi, Kenya, and promoted by Osaga Promotions,  Njeri won by TKO2 over Pavla Stankeova for the vacant WIBF-GBU bantamweight titled due to the retirement of Bettina Csabi. According to our records, Stankeova had never won a boxing match.

On March 3, 2007, in Narobi, Kenya, Njeri won a decision over Bulgarian Galina Koleva Ivanova in a ten-round fight that saw the Kenyan girl have trouble with her first southpaw opponent. The taller Galina used her reach well, keeping away from Zarika's right while making rightly timed jabs throughout the fight. By the 7th round, the fight could have gone either way as Njieri constantly failed to make the fight from inside to counter the smooth movement of the Bulgarian. However Zarika came strongly in the last two rounds to stamp her authority over the game. The fights were promoted by Osaga Promotions with close cooperation with newly formed Samdove Promotions. The fights were aired live on TV, KBC Channel 1 from the Grand Regency Ballroom.

WBAN reported in our original report that on May 06, 2007, at the Hood Restaurant, in Nairobi, Kenya, in what could be described as just another pointless “title” bout took place in women’s boxing, bantamweight Fatuma Zarika [Njeri], Kenya, TKO’d Iliana Boneva, Bulgaria, in the seventh round of a scheduled 10-round WIBF world title bout. Zarika was defending her belt. Boneva is now 0-11-1. The local news media reported that the ringside officials of Boneva’s were forced to throw in the towel to stop Zarika from inflicting further damage. Referee Stephen Okumu was forced from time to time to step in and free Zarika from the grip of Boneva. Okumu warned Boneva twice, instructing the judges to deduct points. Zarika’s record now stands at 18 fights with 14 wins, three loses and one draw. [Excerpt from Story by Chris Musumba/Daily Nation].

(Source: Team Njeri's biography, and WBAN's archived reports on Njeri)