By KPC Sports Reporter
The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) has awarded the national women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers Sh50 million Olympic Solidarity scholarship to support their qualification campaign for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
NOCK Secretary General Francis Mutuku said the funds, sourced from Olympic Solidarity, will be disbursed progressively from now until 2028 to support the team’s long-term preparations.
“The Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) will utilise these funds to target key championships that are critical in securing qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics,” said Mutuku.
The scholarship was formally presented to Malkia Strikers during a ceremony held at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Tuesday.
Mutuku noted that several Kenyan sports federations had applied for Olympic Solidarity scholarships, but Malkia Strikers were selected based on their consistency, past performances and realistic chances of qualifying for the Games.
“Olympic Solidarity awards these scholarships to teams that demonstrate a strong probability of Olympic qualification. Malkia Strikers met that threshold,” he said.
He added that early preparation was key to Olympic success, stressing that the timely award would significantly enhance the team’s qualification prospects.
KVF vice-president Paul Bitok welcomed the support, describing it as a major boost for the women’s national team.
“To qualify for the Olympics, we need adequate resources, especially for logistics and participation in high-level competitions. This scholarship has come at the right time,” said Bitok.
He revealed that Kenya is currently close to securing qualification through the world ranking pathway.
“We only need 54 more points to qualify. The funds will be channelled towards participating in major tournaments that will help us improve our points tally,” he added.
Kenya is currently ranked 21st in the world and tops the African standings with 158 points. Cameroon is second with 76 points, followed by Egypt (46) and Algeria (28).
Bitok said the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for August 23 to September 3, 2026 in Nairobi, will be the first major competition targeted under the scholarship programme as Malkia Strikers intensify their road to Los Angeles 2028.