Outside hitter Dennis Esokon / HANDOUTThe duo was dropped from the provisional squad ahead of the regional tournament scheduled for May 31 to June 6. The confirmation of the travelling team now shifts focus to the Kampala assignment, where regional supremacy and qualification ambitions will be on the line.
Officials confirmed the team is expected to depart on Sunday ahead of the start of the competition. The squad tasked with carrying Kenya’s hopes includes liberos Stephen Barack and Hudson Kipchumba; setters Brian Melly and Kelvin Kipkosgei; opposites Peter Kamara, Elphas Makuto and Simion Kipkorir; outside hitters Moses Kamau, Nicholas Matui, Denis Esokon and Dennis Omollo; and middle blockers Wilson Cheruiyot, Levis Ogutu and Brian Kamonde.
The technical bench will be led by head coach Gideon Tarus, assisted by Elisha Aliwa and Denis Mokua, while James Ontere and Jeremiah Mukopi will serve as trainer and statistician, respectively.
The regional championship is expected to attract stiff competition from across the zone as Kenya targets a strong performance in Kampala.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s men and women beach volleyball teams secured qualification to the next phase of the CAVB Continental Beach Cup cum 2028 Olympic Zone V qualifiers after finishing second in their respective categories at Sawa Sawa Beach in Dar es Salaam. Despite losing to Egypt in their final matches, Kenya’s men booked passage after finishing runners-up behind the North Africans.
The top two teams in each category advanced to the next round, likely to be staged in August. Richard Amutalla and Anthony Chimanyi fell 0-2 (18-21, 13-21) to Egypt’s George Bakhit and Youssef Awad before Naftali Chumba and Reagan Kipchirchir lost 0-2 (16-21, 16-21) to Aboesoud Eid and Youssef Abdel as Kenya settled for second overall.
Kenya’s women also sealed qualification after beating Burundi in their final matches to finish second behind Egypt. Selina Gambo and Veronica Adhiambo defeated Pamela Irakoze and Emmanuelle Ndayikengurukiye 2-0 (21-12, 21-8), while Sharleen Sembel and Sharon Jepkogei recovered from a first-set loss to beat Nadia Buntubwimana and Emelyne Igiraneza 2-1 (19-21, 21-17, 15-9). Team manager John Ogara praised the players for overcoming a demanding competition to secure qualification.
“The competition was tough, and I want to thank the players for going the extra mile to record these results. We are proud of them, and the focus now shifts to the next round that is likely to be staged in August,” said Ogara. Kenya Volleyball Federation president Charles Nyaberi congratulated both teams for flying the country’s flag high.
Nyaberi hailed the men and women squads for qualifying for the continental championships and credited players, coaches Patrick Owino and Sila Makiso, team manager Ogara, Beach Volleyball Commission chair Moses Mbuthia, alongside the medical and technical teams, for the successful campaign.
He also thanked the Ministry of Sports for sponsoring the team and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya for providing kits to the squad. Team Kenya arrived back home through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Tuesday as preparations began for the next qualification phase.
