Kenya unveil roster for the Tokyo Olympics

Africa’s representative in the women's volleyball tournament at the Tokyo Olympics, Kenya have announced their 12-player roster for the Games.

Head coach Paul Bitok was working with a group of 14 players during the team’s preparations but needed to narrow down his selection for the Olympics to just 12. He decided to drop opposite Violet Makuto and libero and Elizabeth Wanyana and finalized the squad selection.

The Kenyan roster in Tokyo will resemble the one which played the 2019 FIVB Volleyball World Cup, their last major international competition, as eight players are set to return to Japan almost two years later including setter Jane Wacu, opposites Emmaculate Chemtai and Sharon Chepchumba, outside hitters Mercy Moim and Leonida Kasaya, middle blockers Lorine Chebet and Edith Mukuvilani and libero Agripina Kundu.

Kenya will return to the Olympics for the first time since Athens 2004, when the nine-time African champions finished 11th. The country’s only other appearance at the Games was four years earlier, when the Malkia Strikers finished 12th.

Kenya are in Pool A at the Olympics and will make their debut against hosts Japan on July 25th. Kenya will also face reigning world champions Serbia, Brazil, Korea and the Dominican Republic in pool play.

Kenya women’s national team were recently been selected by the FIVB to participate in a Volleyball Empowerment high performance coaching pilot project in the lead up to the Olympics. As part of the programme, the squad participated in a high performance training camp in Nairobi led by experienced Brazilian head coach Luizomar de Moura.

Kenya’s Olympic Roster

• Setters – Jane Wacu, Joy Lusenaka
• Opposites – Sharon Chepchumba, Emmaculate Chemtai
• Outside Hitters – Mercy Moim, Noel Murambi, Leonida Kasaya, Pamela Jepkirui
• Middle Blockers – Edith Mukuvilani, Gladys Ekaru, Lorine Chebet
• Libero – Agripina Kundu