Malkia Strikers during a past match/FILE

Kenya is racing to complete preparations to host the 2026 Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship in August, with organisers under pressure to upgrade venues and meet continental standards.

A three-day inspection tour by officials from the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) highlighted progress but also flagged gaps in infrastructure preparedness that must be addressed in the coming weeks.
Kenya Volleyball Federation deputy president Paul Bitok confirmed that Nairobi now has three confirmed venues. The main matches will be staged at the Kasarani Indoor Arena, while Brookhouse School and the Ulinzi Sports Complex will serve as secondary and training halls.
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Bitok admitted that securing compliant indoor venues has been a challenge. The Nyayo Stadium was ruled out for failing to meet international standards, and Brookhouse School was only recently identified as a suitable alternative.
The inspection team, led by Zaid Sadik of Uganda, praised Kasarani but emphasised that urgent upgrades and maintenance are needed, particularly for training facilities.
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“The biggest assignment is to make sure that the competition halls and competition facilities are brought to the standards required of this international tournament,” Sadik said, confirming that clear timelines have been issued. A detailed report outlining gaps will guide the next phase, with a final inspection scheduled in about a month.
Bitok called on the government to factor indoor arenas into national sports infrastructure planning.
“When planning stadia and facilities for football, we ask the government to include volleyball,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Sadik expressed confidence that Kenya can deliver a successful championship. “I have the confidence that Kenya can do this,” he said, urging organisers to use the remaining months effectively.
The championship will feature 16 teams, with Kenya’s Malkia Strikers defending their continental title. The event will also serve as Africa’s qualification pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Championship in Poland.
Malkia Strikers, Africa’s most decorated women’s volleyball team, have won a record 10 continental titles between 1993 and 2019, consistently finishing on the podium.
Their dominance has translated into global exposure, making Kenya the first Sub-Saharan African nation to qualify for Olympic women’s volleyball at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and later competing in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and Tokyo 2020.
Kenya has also featured in multiple editions of the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, including 2018 and 2022, reinforcing their status as Africa’s leading volleyball nation and demonstrating competitiveness beyond the continent.