Malawian international Griffin Lwazi and William Sempa are Chema Volleyball Club’s latest recruits ahead of the 2026/2027 Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) National League, which serves off on November 14-15.
Lwazi, an outside hitter and libero Sempa join the Juja-based side as they prepare for their second campaign in the top flight following a runners-up finish behind Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) last season.
KVF Sports Organising Secretary John Oronje confirmed that the new season is expected to feature 16 men’s and 10 women’s teams. Clubs required to complete player registration and transfers by November 8.
The federation has also introduced approved player-licensing cards to address cases of players registering for multiple clubs in the same competition.
The registration system is intended to strengthen oversight and ensure players are properly affiliated with their respective teams. A mid-season transfer window is scheduled for mid-February next year.
Fixtures will be spread across the month, with teams alternating their playing weekends as the federation seeks to maintain a regular competition schedule.
Chema, who finished second in their maiden National League campaign, will also have to navigate a change in leadership following the departure of 48-year-old coach Jeremiah Mukopi, who guided them to the runners-up position.
Setter Mathias Kemboi has also joined Chema after spells at KPA and General Service Unit (GSU).
Kemboi began his National League career at KPA in 2021, spending three seasons with the Mombasa-based club before moving to GSU in the 2024/2025 season. He earned Man of the Match recognition against Kenya Prisons during the Kenya Cup at Kasarani on July 12, 2025.
Meanwhile, Trailblazers Volleyball Club have reshuffled their technical bench, with former player Stanley Mutua Kilonzo, moving into coaching as an assistant.
Bernard Oselu, who previously served as assistant coach, has been promoted to head coach as Trailblazers prepare for the new campaign.
KPA will enter the men’s league as defending champions after beating Chema in last season’s final, while the women’s competition is expected to feature 10 teams.
With the registration deadline approaching, clubs have limited time to finalise their squads and comply with the federation’s player-licensing requirements before the opening weekend.
Elsewhere, Kenya Pipeline have strengthened their squad with the addition of outside hitter Faith Cherotich, libero Josephine Kataa and middle blockers Pauline Chemtai and Sharon Serem ahead of the new season.
