Nairobi, Kenya | Kenya’s leading beach volleyball players and officials call for urgent investment and structural change after the national men’s and women’s teams fell short of qualifying for the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships set for November 14–23, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia.
The teams returned to Nairobi on Tuesday morning after competing at the CAVB Continental Championship in Martil, Morocco, where the men exited at the Round of 24 and the women bowed out in the Round of 16.
Olympian Gaudencia Makokha, one of Kenya’s most experienced beach volleyball players, urged the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) and the Ministry of Sports to step up support for the discipline if the country is to reclaim its place among Africa’s elite.
“We need the Kenya Volleyball Federation and the Ministry of Sports to invest in beach volleyball. That’s the only way we’ll get back to our winning ways,” Makokha said at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on arrival from Morocco.
Makokha, who has represented Kenya on the Olympic stage, emphasised that consistent support, better facilities, and more competitive exposure are the keys to raising the standards and bridging the gap with other nations that run full-time beach volleyball programs.
Beach volleyball coach Salome Wanjala echoed her sentiments, stressing that doing things “the right way” is the only path to success.
“Let’s do things the right way,” Wanjala urged. “We have the talent. But without regular training on proper beach courts, more competitions, and a dedicated beach volleyball league, we’ll keep coming up short at international events.”
Team manager Robinson Okoth, who also doubles up as Nairobi Prisons men’s and women’s volleyball team manager, added that the short preparation time, inadequate training facilities, and lack of a structured beach volleyball pathway continue to hold back Kenya’s progress on the sand.
“Our teams played their best. The only challenge they had was a very short period of preparation. The depth of the sand in Morocco is so deep compared to where they trained at Strathmore University grounds. The climate also affected their performance because it’s very hot there, yet Nairobi was cold during our training sessions,” Okoth explained.
He added that other countries have dedicated full-time training for beach volleyball players, while Kenya still relies heavily on converting indoor players.
“I urge the federation to consider taking our beach volleyball players to several competitions, to develop more beach volleyball courts across the country, and if possible, start a beach volleyball league to make our players more regular,” said Okoth. He also urged the federation to ensure Kenya’s participation in the upcoming regional beach volleyball event in Burundi to keep the players active.
A wake-up call
Currently, Kenya’s national beach teams have limited access to quality beach courts, with training largely restricted to the Strathmore University grounds in Nairobi and a few facilities in Mombasa. The difference in sand depth, weather conditions, and lack of continuous competition leaves Kenyan players at a disadvantage against nations that run professional beach volleyball setups.
All three voices, Makokha, Wanjala, and Okoth, are united in their call for the Kenya Volleyball Federation, the Ministry of Sports, clubs, and sponsors to act now.
- Build more quality beach volleyball courts across the country.
- Launch a National Beach Volleyball League to ensure regular competition.
- Increase player exposure through participation in more regional and international events.
Kenya has the talent and potential but without structured support and long-term investment, the gap on the sand will keep growing.
Kenya Volleyball Federation President Charles Nyaberi was at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to receive the teams as they arrived back home. His presence signalled the federation’s awareness of the challenges and the urgent calls for change.
As the players and coaches look ahead, all eyes now turn to the federation’s next steps to ensure Kenya’s beach volleyball teams return to the continental stage stronger, better prepared, and ready to reclaim their place among Africa’s best.
