Elphas Makuto of Kenya Prisons celebrates a set against General Service Unit (GSU) in a Kenya Volleyball Federation league play-offs finals at Moi International Sports Centre on October 4, 2023.
On April 2, 2026, Rwanda Police Volleyball Club put up a sterling performance against Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the final of men’s Volleyball Club Championship at the iconic Rwanda BK Arena in Kigali.
Rwanda Police Volleyball Club fought gallantly and came close to upstaging their opponents in all the three sets before losing 3-0 (25-20, 25-21 and 25-22) to Al Ahly, who won a record-extending 17th African title without dropping a set in the championship.
One Kenyan player was not only at the heart of Rwanda Police Volleyball Club’s successful run to the final, but also kept alive his family’s tradition of producing world-class volleyball talent for club and country.
Rwanda Police Volleyball Club opposite attacker, 28-year-old Elphas Makuto, whose elder siblings Asha and Everlyne have won a total of six Africa Club Championship titles and six continental titles with Kenya.
Elphas Makuto of Kenya Prisons celebrates a set against General Service Unit (GSU) in a Kenya Volleyball Federation league play-offs finals at Moi International Sports Centre on October 4, 2023.
Elphas is the younger brother of former Kenyan internationals Asha Makuto, Everlyn Makuto, Violet Makuto, Luke Makuto, Douglas Makuto, Bernard Makuto, Philip Makuto and Emilly Makuto.
Elphas emerged the best attacker in the final of the men’s Volleyball Club Championship, scoring 17 points to lead Rwanda Police Volleyball Club in taking silver medal. The team posted the best finish by a Rwandan side in any continental volleyball championship.
Rwanda Police became the only other team in East Africa to have reached the continental championship final in the men’s category after Kenya Prisons, who also lost to Al Ahly in 3-0 sets in the final of the 2011 championship.
No team from East Africa has won the men’s championship. The best performance by a men’s team from the region came from Kenya Prisons in 2011, and Rwanda Police matched the performance in 2026.
Kenya Ports Authority was the best placed Kenyan team in sixth place after reaching the quarter-final stage. General Service Unit and Equity Bank did not go past the round of 16.
Elphas’ silver medal exploits in Kigali add to a rich medal collection by the Makuto family in international championships.
Elphas made his debut for Kenya Prisons in 2017, and helped the team win back-to-back Kenya Volleyball Federation men’s league titles in 2023 and 2024. He was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in the 2024 season, and left to join Rwanda Police thereafter.
Following his achievement with Rwanda Police, Elphas is perhaps the most accomplished among his brothers Luke (38), Douglas (29), Bernard and Philip.
Asha, 40, is the one who drove virtually the whole family into volleyball, including her sisters Everlyne (35), Violet (32) and Emily.
Kenya's Asha Makuto (left) pushes the ball over Brazilian players during the first round match of the World Women's Volleyball Championship in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture on October 29, 2010. Brazil won the match 25-15, 25-16, 25-11.
“As a family, we support and encourage each other in the game. Asha and Luke really pushed us into the sport. Asha gave us self-belief and a good foundation in the game. Her performances whenever she went out of the country with the national team inspired us,” said Elphas.
Elphas, who was the fifth born in the family of nine siblings, all of whom followed in Asha’s footsteps, remembers Asha calling their father Albert on the phone from abroad just to update him on their performance.
He is of the opinion that Kenya must invest in good facilities like indoor facilities to improve the game.
“Most Rwandan teams have signed quality players from abroad. They have also lured foreign-based players back to their local league from Brazil,” Elphas said, adding that Kenyan teams should either sign up top players from elsewhere, or fight to retain good players in the local league.
Nine volleyball-playing siblings
Luke is former national team player and right attacker/centre-blocker for General Service Union. He is also coach of Kenya under-20 men’s team, Junior Wafalme Stars.
Luke began his career in 2007 playing for GSU, Homegrown Company, and later Postal Corporation of Kenya, where he served as team captain.
Luke was appointed head coach of Kenya Under-20 men’s team Junior Malkia Strikers last year, and he led them to historic moments at the Africa Under-20 Athletics Championship in Yaoundé, Cameroon in 2025. The team claimed bronze medal after beating the hosts 3-1 sets in the play-offs.
Kenya Airports Police Unit volleyball team head coach Luke Makuto follows his team action against General Service Unit (GSU) during National men Volleyball league match at Moi International Sports Centre on November 6, 2025.
It was the first time for a Kenya men’s national team to secure a medal at a continental championship, a feat that saw the Junior Malkia Strikers qualify for 2026 FIVB Volleyball Under-21 Men’s World Championship.
Luke is also head coach of Kenya Airport Police Unit (KAPU) volleyball team, which he guided to promotion to the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) National League playoffs in 2025 season.
Asha, 40, and Everlyne, 35 have won a total of six Africa Club Championship titles, and six continental honours between themselves.
But it is Asha who started it all in the family of nine volleyball-playing siblings, winning the Women’s Africa Volleyball Club Championship with Kenya Pipeline in 2002 , and triumphing back-to-back in 2004, and in 2005.
Asha, who retired in 2019 after a successful volleyball career spanning many years, also won the Women’s Africa Volleyball Championship four times with Kenya’s Malkia Strikers in 2007, 2011, 2013, and in 2015 held in Nairobi.
A former 100 metres and 200m runner, Asha quit athletics to take up volleyball in 1996
Everlyne also won three Women’s Africa Volleyball Club Championship titles with Kenya Prisons in 2011, 2012 and in 2013. Along with her elder sister Asha, Everlyne steered Malkia Strikers to victory in the Women’s African Volleyball Championship in 2011, 2013 and in 2015.
Everlyne Makuto of Kenya Prisons blocks shot from KCB players during a national league match at Makande Hall in Mombasa on December 3, 2017.
Everlyne, who is left-handed, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2015 Women’s African Nations Championship.
Violet, 32, who once played for Kenya Pipeline, Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates, and for KCB, joined her brother Elphas in Rwanda mid last year, where she is playing for Kepler Volleyball Club.
Their father Albert Makuto is happy with their progress.
“Finally, the men in my house can also celebrate and toss to a continental medal,” their father, Albert Makuto, said.
“Whether the medal came from Rwanda, or from another country, it’s by God’s grace,” he added.
Albert has urged his children, who are still active in sports, to always strive to improve themselves in the game that is changing daily owing to technology.
“They must continue working hard, stay humble and have self-discipline so as to thrive. They must listen to their coaches,“ explained Albert.
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