As Kenya’s national women’s volleyball team, the Malkia Strikers, gear up to face Germany at the FIVB Women’s World Championship in Thailand on Saturday, August 23, 2025, their attention is divided between their performance on the court and pressing concerns back home.
The players have raised alarms over unpaid allowances, which were promised to support their travel and help their families during the tournament. In a video widely shared online, members of the team expressed deep concern, revealing that the financial uncertainty has caused significant distress.
“It’s hard to give your best on the court when your mind is back home, wondering if your children have food or if your landlord will lock the door,” said one visibly emotional player.
Despite earlier assurances from the Ministry of Sports, the athletes claim they have not received their training and travel stipends. The payments were expected before the team’s departure for Thailand, following a meeting with Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya. However, according to the players, they were discouraged by their coach from bringing up the matter directly with the minister.
“We were told the funds would be disbursed before we left, but that never happened,” one team member said. “Now we’re being told the money is still being processed.”
This isn’t the first time the Malkia Strikers have faced such challenges. Despite their consistent success on the continent—having secured multiple African championship titles and regularly qualifying for global events—they continue to grapple with what appears to be recurring administrative neglect.
Even before departing for the World Championship, the team faced significant hurdles. Due to funding shortfalls, the players were temporarily locked out of their training camp. With no immediate support from the Volleyball Kenya Federation (VKF), the squad turned to private sponsors to raise funds independently. Initially, the federation informed them that no budget was available, leading to a reduction in the team from 20 players to 16.
As the Malkia Strikers prepare to represent Kenya on the world stage, their resilience is once again being tested—not just by their opponents, but by a system that continues to let them down.
