KVF Deputy President Paul Bitok/ HANDOUTWith renovation works gathering pace at the Kasarani Indoor Arena and Ulinzi Sports Complex, Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) deputy president Paul Bitok is confident the country will be ready to host the 2026 Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship.
The two venues, earmarked for the August 23 to September 5 tournament in Nairobi, are undergoing upgrades under the supervision of the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Defence ahead of the continental showpiece.
“Kasarani will be our main venue for the competition. It will host the opening ceremony, the main matches and the final. We also have Ulinzi Sports Complex, where work has picked up significantly after it was below 50 per cent complete a month ago,” said Bitok.
He added that Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) engineers are working around the clock to ensure the Ulinzi facility is completed on schedule. “I am confident both venues will meet the required standards before the tournament begins,” he said.
The championship marks Kenya’s first time hosting the event since 2015, when Malkia Strikers defeated Algeria in straight sets to win the title at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.
The tournament will feature 16 teams, including defending champions Kenya, Cameroon, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Rwanda, Morocco, Mali and DR Congo.
Beyond the continental title, the championship will also serve as a qualification event for the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Championship in Poland and contribute to the qualification pathway for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Malkia Strikers will be chasing a record-extending 11th African title after reclaiming the crown in 2023 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Egypt, ending Cameroon’s eight-year dominance.
With less than a month to the opening match, organisers are banking on the accelerated venue upgrades to ensure Kenya delivers a successful championship both on and off the court.
