Kenya’s national women’s volleyball team, the Malkia Strikers, are facing a storm off the court as they prepare for the upcoming World Championships. The players have revealed that, despite assurances from the Ministry of Sports, they are yet to receive allowances promised to support their travel and families during the tournament.
In a video shared online, the team expressed their frustrations, stating that the unpaid allowances have left them anxious and distracted, especially as they prepare for their opening match. “It’s hard to give your best on the court when your mind is back home, worrying about whether your children have food or if your landlord will lock the door,” the players lamented.
The struggles reportedly began even before the team’s departure. During their training camp in Kenya, players claimed they were briefly locked out because of financial constraints, forcing the squad to be trimmed from 20 to 16 players. Sponsors eventually stepped in to rescue the situation, enabling training to continue.
“The information we were getting from the team’s deputy president was that there was no money to get us to camp. Eventually, sponsors intervened, and we got into the camp,” the team disclosed.
According to the players, the Ministry of Sports had pledged to settle allowances before departure. A meeting with Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya offered a chance to raise the issue, but the athletes allege they were blocked by their coach from voicing their concerns directly to the CS.
“The promise was that before we travel, we were supposed to get all our allowances paid into our accounts; however, it never happened,” they said.
The Strikers are now appealing to relevant stakeholders, including the government, to urgently resolve the matter. Their plight is particularly striking given that President William Ruto has recently increased investment in sports, pledging millions as rewards for the Harambee Stars during the African Nations Championship.
For a team that has brought Kenya continental glory with multiple African titles and appearances on the global stage, the current neglect paints a troubling picture. As the Malkia Strikers step onto the world stage, their resilience will once again be tested this time both on and off the court.
