Malkia Strikers threaten to boycott final over unpaid allowances

Kenya women’s national volleyball team players have staged a silent protest over unpaid allowances just hours to their match against Egypt in the final of 2026 Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship.

Kenya has been hosting  the 15-team continental championship, which is a qualifier tournament for both the 2028 Olympic Games and the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Cup, at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani Indoor Arena, and at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi from August 23 to September 4.

On Thursday evening, Kenya’s Malkia strikers beat Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses 3-0 sets of 25-19, 25-20 and 25-20 in the second semi-final match to qualify for the final scheduled for Friday night.

Kenya’s victory over Cameroon sparked wild celebrations among Kenyan fans at Kasarani Indoor Arena. Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi who attended the match,  joined Malkia Strikers in a jig at the court. But deep inside, the players were hurting.  The government is yet to settle allowances owed to the players and coaches totalling Sh8.9 million since they entered residential training camp on July 26, 2026.

Multiple sources in Malkia Strikers’ camp told Nation Sport on Friday that the players were considering boycotting the final match against Egypt.

“They are playing a dangerous game with us, yet we need to feed our families. They have been telling us on a daily basis to check our bank account balances but in actual sense, the have not done anything to pay us allowances. We are now heading to the final match of the tournament, and the girls are considering boycotting it,” the source said.

“They are playing the cat-and-mouse games with the players, and we are not happy at all.”

Kenya, coached by Geoffrey Omondi,  has automatically qualified for the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Cup by virtue of reaching the final of the tournament. The top three teams from the championship will automatically qualify to play in the global event.

The latest in a series promises by the government to the players came on August 18, when the players staged a go-slow. At the time, the team had spent three weeks in pre-championship camp without allowances and training kits. At the time, Kenya Volleyball Federation’s (KVF) Deputy President, Paul Bitok, said the allowances were delayed by clearance procedures at the Sports ministry.

It is the sixth time that Malkia Strikers have qualified for the FIVB World Cup. The team is one victory away from qualifying for the Olympic Games for the fifth time. Kenya qualified for the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney,  2004 Olympics in Athens, the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, and the 2024  Olympics held in Paris, France.

The source said each of the 14 players in Malkia Strikers camp is entitled to  a daily allowance of $200 (equivalent to Sh25,880). The team has been engaged for two weeks, which entails a week of training and another for competition. That translates to Sh362,320 for each player.

Each of the five officials in the team is entitled to a daily allowance of $300 (Sh38,820), which translates to Sh543,480 over a period of  two weeks as per government’s allowance structures.

The source intimated that players who speak out have been threatened with dismissal from the camp, particularly after the squad staged a go-slow two weeks ago.

The players, who reported to camp on July 26, have so far been paid Sh100,000 each by the team’s sponsors, Mozzart Bet, and another Sh50,000 each by National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K). The payments came after the team staged a go-slow.

“There is a contractual agreement between KVF and Mozzart Bet to pay the players allowances for every national team assignment. NOC-K steps in support Kenyan teams preparing for Olympic qualifiers, or the Olympic Games,” the source said.

“I feel sorry for the players and coaches since prompt payment of allowances are some of the things that motivate players to perform well. Patriotism is good, but we should also respect these players. They have personal needs to take care of. They forego a lot just to play for Kenya,” the source added.

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