Kenya Prisons' opposite hitter Mike Chemos says winning the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Memorial Volleyball Cup title in Dar-es-salaam is “perfect motivation and a turning point” as the warders prepare for the upcoming Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) season.
Prisons overpowered hosts Serengeti 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-19 and 25-20) in the final held at the Temeke Mwembeyanga Sports Complex to lift the 26th edition of the regional championship.
The competition drew teams from Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda in honour of former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere.
“This win means a lot because it shows the work we’ve been putting in since last season is paying off,” said Chemos. “It’s not just about lifting a trophy — it’s about proving to ourselves that we can compete and win again.
The Nyerere Cup gave us competitive exposure, tested our systems, and reminded us what it takes to win as a unit. Now our target is to carry this form into the KVF League and fight for the title.”
Chemos, who was named the tournament’s best opposite hitter, said the victory came at the right time for a squad that has been rebuilding after finishing fourth in both the National League play-offs and the inaugural Kenya Cup.
He added that the team’s chemistry and renewed hunger for success had been their biggest weapon throughout the tournament. “We’ve been working on our cohesion and communication, and everyone knew their role,” he said.
“Winning in Tanzania is a huge confidence boost for us, and it shows that Prisons volleyball is back where it belongs — at the top.” Head coach Denis Mokua echoed Chemos’ sentiments, describing the triumph as a sign of the team’s maturity and readiness to challenge for domestic honours.
“We have a balanced squad, young, energetic and blended with experience,” Mokua said.
“Winning in Dar-es-salaam gives us belief, and our focus now is to replicate the same form in the league. It was important for us to get this kind of exposure early, and the players responded perfectly.”
Kenya Prisons’ run for the title saw them top Pool ‘A’, which also had Tanzania’s JKT and Rukinzo of Burundi, before sweeping past JKT 3-0 in the quarterfinals and overpowering fellow Kenyan side Chema VC in straight sets of 25-22, 25-20, and 25-23 in the semifinals to book a final date with Serengeti.
Chema, on their part, came from a set down to beat Rukinzo 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-22, 25-18) in the third-place playoff to secure bronze.
They capped a strong campaign for the newly promoted KVF Premier League side that has continued to impress since finishing second at the Rwanda Genocide Memorial Volleyball Tournament.
They also eliminated Kenya Cup finalists Kenya Ports Authority before falling to Rwanda’s REG in the final. The dominance of Kenya Prisons was further highlighted in the individual awards, with several of their players named in the Nyerere Cup 2025 Dream Team.
Setter Kelvin Maiyo was voted Best Setter, middle blocker Emmanuel Kosgei shared honours with Chema’s Levis Ogutu, libero Peter Kibata earned recognition among the best, opposite Mike Chemos took his rightful spot, and outside hitter Denis Esokon walked away with both the Best Outside Hitter and Most Valuable Player awards, while Mokua was named Best Coach as the side swept nearly every category, underscoring their overall superiority in the competition.
Esokon, who played a starring role throughout the tournament, credited teamwork and discipline for their success. “Everyone in the team understood their role, and we played for each other,” he said. “It’s been a great tournament for us, and personally, being named MVP is a motivation to keep working harder and helping the team achieve more.”
The Nyerere Cup, hosted by the Tanzania Volleyball Federation, continues to serve as a key event for regional clubs to measure their standards and promote unity through sport. TVF secretary-general Laurence Safari noted that the tournament, which honours Tanzania’s founding president Julius Kambarage Nyerere, remains a pillar of East African volleyball development.
“The Nyerere Cup brings together the best teams in the region, and through it, we build friendship and competitiveness across borders,” said Safari.
