NAIROBI — If 2025 was a volleyball match, the women played the aces while the men struggled to keep the ball in play. In a year defined by stark contrasts, Kenya’s female volleyballers cemented their status as the country’s most consistent team sport ambassadors, delivering continental gold and global grit. The men, meanwhile, watched from the sidelines, trapped in a cycle of mediocrity and missed chances.

The defining image of the year remains the tear-streaked faces of the Junior Malkia Strikers in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Against a hostile home crowd in August, they didn’t just win; they dismantled the psychological barrier that has long held Kenyan youth teams back. Their 3-1 victory over Cameroon wasn't just a game—it was a statement.

The Rise of the 'Junior Queens'

For years, the narrative has been that Kenya lacks a youth pipeline. The Junior Malkia Strikers shattered that myth at the U20 African Nations Championship. Led by the mercurial Terry Tata Mallin, who was rightfully named MVP, the team displayed a tactical maturity rarely seen at this level.

The final against hosts Cameroon was a cauldron. After edging the first set 26-24 and dropping the second, the Kenyan girls faced a pivotal third set. They held their nerve to win 28-26 before routing the hosts 25-16 in the fourth.

• The Star: Terry Tata (MVP & Best Opposite) emerged as the heir apparent to the senior team's heavy hitters.
• The Architect: Coach Jackline Barasa’s tactical flexibility outwitted Cameroon’s power game.
• The Reward: A ticket to the 2026 U21 World Championship, ensuring the pipeline remains active.

"We didn't just play for ourselves; we played to prove that the future is safe," Coach Barasa noted upon the team's return, a sentiment that resonated across the sporting fraternity.

Malkia Strikers: A New Era in Phuket

While the juniors conquered Africa, the senior Malkia Strikers faced the world in Thailand. The 2025 FIVB World Championship in Phuket was always going to be a transition test. New head coach Geoffrey Omondi made the bold—some said risky—call to drop seasoned veterans like Trizah Atuka and Mercy Moim, handing the captaincy to Meldina Sande.

The gamble paid off. Drawn in the treacherous Pool G alongside Poland and Germany, Kenya’s target was always Vietnam. In a match that will be replayed in coaching clinics for years, the new-look Malkia Strikers delivered a tactical masterclass to secure a vital win. It wasn't just about the points; it was about validating the generational change.

"The world is starting to respect African volleyball not just for power, but for structure," noted Head of Delegation Paul Bitok. The win in Phuket ensured Kenya didn't return home empty-handed, a fate that has befallen many previous squads on the global stage.

The Wafalme Void

But where there is light, there is shadow. The story of the men’s team, Wafalme Stars, in 2025 is one of silence. While the women attracted government funding and corporate interest, the men’s game seemed to regress.

The Junior Wafalme’s campaign at the U20 African Nations Championship in Cairo ended in a predictable 3-0 semifinal loss to Egypt. Unlike the women, who showed resilience, the junior men were outclassed in technique and temperament. The senior men’s team remained largely inactive on the major stage, failing to qualify for the 2025 Men's World Championship in the Philippines.

The disparity is now economic as much as it is sporting. The women’s success attracts sponsorship shillings that put food on the table for players. The men, lacking visibility, are left fighting for scraps. Without a radical overhaul of the men's league and youth structures, the gender gap in Kenyan volleyball will become a permanent chasm.

As we look to 2026, the lesson from 2025 is clear: Investment follows success, but success requires the courage to trust the youth. The women have shown the way. It is time for the men to take notes.