Defending champions KPC in action against former champions KCB in a past match at Kasarani/ CHARLENE MALWA Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) Secretary General Ismael Chege has tipped Kenyan clubs to sweep both the men’s and women’s titles when the country hosts the 2026 CAVB Zone V Club Championship next February.
Chege said home advantage, improved preparation and corrected technical mistakes made by local teams are key to reclaiming regional dominance.
Chege said Kenyan sides have “gone back to the drawing board” following Rwanda’s APR winning both titles at the 2025 Kampala edition in March.
He added: “With the tournament coming to Nairobi, the Kenyan contingent is 'very sure of winning all the titles this time round'.
The teams, he said, have tightened their systems and are approaching the event with renewed tactical discipline and stronger depth.
The nine-day championship, slated for February 8–16, 2026, will bring together the top four teams from all 12 Zone V federations, with Kenya’s representatives coming from the inaugural 2025 Kenya Cup standings.
The Zone V bloc, Africa’s largest, comprises Burundi, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Somalia and Egypt.
Chege said the successful bid was a major victory for the federation, emphasising that hosting will significantly cut travel expenses for Kenyan clubs, while providing a critical platform for local sponsors to assess, support and connect with domestic teams.
Kenya’s strong hosting history was a key factor in beating Uganda and Ethiopia in the bidding process.
These include the 2022 CAVB Zone V Beach Volleyball, African Games qualifiers and its consistent participation in the Africa Club Championships.
“This hosting will add a lot of weight and advantage towards our preparation for the Africa Club Championship,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chege observed that the men's teams have failed to show their full potential, especially after failing to feature in last year's championships, where the country was represented by the then-second-tier side Chema Volleyball.
Rwandese sides have been dominant, but Chege believes this does not amount to superiority.
“With the top four Kenya Cup men’s teams now entering the continental stage, Kenya is poised for a proper contest,” he said.
The tournament will be hosted at the Kasarani Indoor Arena, Ulinzi Sports Complex and Nyayo Stadium.
This is said to be part of KVF’s effort to position Nairobi as an East African volleyball hub in their quest to host bigger continental events.
The tournament will also help KVF showcase their organisational standards while strengthening internal structures as they prepare to bid for more top African championships next year.
While acknowledging Rwanda’s investment in world-class sports infrastructure, including multi-purpose arenas supported by government funding, Chege insisted Kenya remains the heartbeat of East African volleyball.
"Kenya is the brainchild of sports in this region. We are known across Africa for organisation, which is why any time we bid, we’re always granted,” he said.
