The late Janet Wanja in a picture taken while serving as a trainer of Kenya's women's national team during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 as part of her transition to coaching.
“Love one another, and take care of yourselves, and the family.”
Those were the last words spoken by Kenya women’s volleyball star, Janet Wanja, who passed away on Thursday night at her house in Kasarani in Nairobi. The celebrated setter, who died at the age of 40, was speaking to her younger brother Kevin Kimani before her untimely death after a brave battle with gallbladder cancer. Kimani plays as a midfielder for 2008 Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions Mathare United.
Setter Janet Wanja during a past championship.
Speaking to KTN on Saturday afternoon at Wanja’s home in Kasarani, Kimani said: “Wanja was an icon in our way family. Whenever we would go astray, she would correct us with love. She was the glue that kept us together.”
“She wanted every member of the family to be happy and comfortable, and even if she really did not tell us about loving each other, I know that’s what she stood for. Wanja loved people and life. She was a very jovial person,” said Kimani.
Kenya’s pin-up girl, setter Janet Wanja, has her hands full at training on August 16, 2011
“I want to thank God for the opportunity of my own life, and that of my sister who has rested. As a family, we don’t want to mourn Wanja anymore but we want to celebrate her. She was a beautiful person at heart. We want to celebrate the life she lived and the moments she cherished. This is evident because everybody is taking pride in her,” Kimani added.
Kimani revealed that Wanja, who served as a trainer of Kenya women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, had ambitions of one day becoming coach of the team.
“As a player, Wanja won almost everything available in the continent, but she really wanted to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Unfortunately, as a player, she didn’t get the chance. However, she had plans of one day becoming the coach of Malkia Strikers. Unfortunately, she will never realise that dream,” said Kimani.
Kimani said that the family will be meeting daily to make burial arrangements, adding that they will release full details in the coming days.
Kimani thanked President William Ruto for supporting the family as they mourn the fallen volleyball star.
“As a family, we appreciate President Ruto, Members of Parliament, Kenya Pipeline Corporation, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, Football Kenya Federation, friends, and the entire nation for standing with our family at this time of mourning,” Kimani said.
Wanja left Mukumu Girls High School in 2005, and started her professional volleyball career at KCB Women’s Volleyball Team where she had a short stint before moving to Kenya Pipeline. At Kenya Pipeline, she established herself as a household name in Kenyan volleyball, taking over the setter position from Judith Serenge and Rhoda Liyali and going on to win four consecutive local league titles with the team from 2014 to 2017.
Janet Wanja the Kenya Volleyball team setter walks away with the runners-up Best Team of the Year Award during a past Soya awards ceremony at the KICC
She was in the Kenyan team that won a historic FIVB World Grand Prix title in Australia in 2015. She also played volleyball with Kenya at the highest level globally. The setter played in two editions of the FIVB World Championship with Kenya (2006 and 2008), and played in three editions of FIVB World Cup (2007, 2011, and 2015), as well as at the 2004 Olympic Games.
Wanja also played in five editions of Africa Women’s Volleyball Championship with Kenya (2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, and 2015) as well as in two editions of the FIVB World Grand Prix (2013 and 2015).
In all the tournaments she competed in, Wanja served the nation as a setter the best way she knew how.
She won the continental titles with Kenya in 2005 in Nigeria, where they beat the hosts 3-1 sets , and in 2007 in Nairobi where Kenya defeated Algeria 3-0 sets in the final to triumph. She would again win the continental title with Kenya in 2011 in Nairobi, where hosts Kenya beat Algeria 3-1 sets before again helping Kenya to beat Cameroon 3-0 sets in the 2013 tournament held in Nairobi.
For the 11 years she played for Kenya, her electrifying performances were not devoid of entertainment. On almost all the occasions when Kenya won a title, especially on home soil, Wanja and her teammates would perform a jig at matches. Her last engagement with Malkia Strikers was as a trainer at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. She served in the same capacity at the FIVB Challenger Cup from July 4 to 7 in Manila in the Philippines.
On Friday, Kimani broke the news of her death.
“The family of Janet Wanja would like to announce her passing on after a brave battle with cancer. Our sincere and deepest gratitude goes out to the Kenya Pipeline Company for walking the journey with us from the beginning, and tirelessly providing all she needed in medical support. A special thank you to all our friends, Kenya Volleyball Federation, National Olympic Committee Kenya and Football Kenya Federation. Further updates shall be provided,” Kimani, who plays for Mathare United in the Kenyan Premier League, said in a statement yesterday morning.
Wanja has been undergoing treatment at MP Shah Hospital in Nairobi. In the final days of her life, she was put on palliative care at her house. Her body is at Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home in Nairobi.
