

Malkia Strikers team manager John Oronje says competition for
places is heating up as the Kenya women’s volleyball team
intensifies preparations for the FIVB Women’s World Championship set for August 22 to September 7.
Drawn in Pool G alongside Poland, Germany and Vietnam, the 10-time
African champions will be out to build on their recent Olympic
appearance in Paris, as well as make a mark at the global showpiece. This will be Kenya’s third consecutive appearance at the World
Championships since 2018.
“Competition is high, and the majority are new faces fighting for slots,” Oronje said.
“Unlike before, where a few names were guaranteed, now no one stands out just yet. We’ve just wrapped up the Kenya Cup, and by Friday, we’ll start to see how the team shape up.”
Oronje said the team’s final squad will be trimmed to 14, with players eager to prove themselves in what he described as a timely training phase following an active club season.
“Most of them have been playing in the league or at club championships, and they bring something extraordinary. This has come in a good season,” he noted.
At the 2022 World Championship in the Netherlands, they beat Cameroon in straight sets, marking their first win at that level since 1998. A year later, they finished runners-up to Egypt at the 2023 Africa Nations Championship in Yaoundé.
“This is a new team. This is not to say that previous players are out of form, but the shift is evident. We’ve realised our service, block and backcourt defence still need polishing because that’s where teams like Cameroon, Egypt and Rwanda are beating us,” Oronje said.
The team hopes to build on their performance at the 2022 World Championship in the Netherlands, where they recorded a straight-sets victory over fierce rivals Cameroon.
Oronje said with fresh talent and renewed ambition, Malkia Strikers seek to make their mark on the global stage.
Head coach Geoffrey Omondi, who led KPC to the national title in his debut season and secured a third-place finish at the Africa Club Championships in Abuja, Nigeria, will be taking charge of the national team for the first time.
David Muthui and Esther Jepkosgei will assist him. Sarah Karongo joins as the team’s physiotherapist. Former head coach Paul Bitok returns in a new role as head of delegation.