Past action between AP and Trailblazers/ CHARLENE MALWA
General Service Unit (GSU) will begin their title defence against Kenya Airports Police Unit (KAPU) as the 2025/26 Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) League gets underway on November 6–9 at the Nyayo gymnasium.
Former champions Kenya Prisons will face Equity Bank, while Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) open their campaign against Trailblazers. Other men’s fixtures on the card include Prisons Rift Valley against Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), Eldoret Water versus AP Kenya and Prisons Nairobi taking on National Service Unit (NSU).
GSU reclaimed the national men’s crown for the first time since 2022 after thrashing KPA 3-0 in last season’s playoff final, ending Kenya Prisons’ two-year dominance.
The women’s league will serve off a week later at the same venue with champions Kenya Pipeline facing Kenya Army, while former titleholders KCB and Kenya Prisons lock horns in a blockbuster opener.
Geoffrey Omondi’s Pipeline recaptured the women’s title in June after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in the final.
In other women’s fixtures, KDF meet newbies A-Plus Volleyball Club, Post Bank battle Kenyatta University and DCI launch their title bid against Nairobi Prisons.
KVF Fixtures Secretary John Oronje confirmed that the new season will see all matches staged indoors to align with FIVB regulations, though he admitted challenges persist.
“The league is set to start in November and we aim to have all games played indoors in line with FIVB regulations,” said Oronje. “However, this may be challenging as Kasarani has proved too costly. If all goes well, we will use Nyayo Stadium, but we share it with basketball.”
He added that two teams—CHEMA and Eldoret Water—have been promoted, while Department of Defence (DOD) and Mt. Kenya Base Yetu drop to Division Two.
“As per our rules and regulations, the top two teams from Division Two earn promotion to Division One while the last two get relegated,” he noted.
Oronje revealed that the Division One playoffs will feature eight teams culminating in a best-of-three knockout format, while Division Two will have four playoff contenders.
“We plan to have the quarterfinals in Mombasa, where women will play at Aga Khan and men at Makande Gymnasium, then back to Nairobi for semis and finals,” he said.
The KVF calendar will also include the Club Championship in May and the Cup of Nations in August next year, with Kenya bidding to host the Zone Five Club Championship in January.
The women’s second leg is scheduled for February 12–15, with the men’s league resuming a week later, setting the stage for another thrilling domestic volleyball season.
