Aluor Girls High School student Milka Akinyi has made the Kenya’s final 14-player Malkia Strikers squad for the 2026 CAVB Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship, which will serve off from August 23 to September 5 in Nairobi.
Head coach Geoffrey Omondi named the final squad on Saturday, with Akinyi selected among the four outside hitters for the continental showpiece that returns to Kenya for the first time since 2015.
Akinyi will line up alongside foreign-based hard-hitter Veronica Adhiambo, Meldina Sande and Daisy Leting as Kenya seeks to continue continental dominance on home soil.
Adhiambo, who is heading to China for the new season, is expected to spearhead Malkia Strikers’ attack as the record African champions target a successful title defence.
Emmaculate Nekesa, the best setter in the National League and Mozzart Kenya Cup, is expected to start in the setter position, with Esther Mutinda providing the alternative.
The opposite hitters are Terry Tata and Mercy Iminza, while Belinda Barasa, Gladys Ekaru, Marian Sokoiyo and Lorine Chebet make up the middle blockers.
Josephine Kataa and Sharon Arusei have been selected as the two liberos.
Omondi dropped Jemimah Siang’u, Juliana Namutira, Sharon Sandui, Pauline Chemutai, Deborah Jesang and Linar Ogweno Achieng.
Kenya will headline a 16-team championship field that includes Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda, Algeria, Nigeria, Morocco, Uganda, Mali, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Senegal, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Zambia.
The championship will also double as a qualifier for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Malkia Strikers are the record African champions with 10 titles and enter the tournament as defending champions, raising expectations for another strong performance in front of a home crowd at Kasarani Indoor Arena and Ulinzi Sports Complex.
