Prisons dedicate success to Chenje

Kenya Prisons have dedicated their silver medal they took at the play-offs of the Kenya Volleyball Federation men’s league to their coach Gideon Chenje.

Chenje travelled home to be with his family after losing his mother on Friday, the first day of the championship. Prisons deputy coach Paul Muthinja said they won the trophy for Chenje, who has played a key role in their campaign. 

“We are very happy with our decisive win against KPA which handed us the silver medal. Since Friday, we have been mourning with coach Chenje who lost his mother and had to travel home,” Muthinja said, adding that their victory was in honour of Chenje’s late mother.

Prisons beat KPA 25-19, 25-20 and 25-22 on Sunday at KPA Makande Hall to finish second behind GSU. The match stretched into the night. In the women’s category, impressive Nairobi Water dismissed KCB 3-2 sets to finish second behind champions Kenya Pipeline. 

KCB women, who had shocked Kenya Prisons 3-2 sets, lost to Nairobi Water who were led by Ruth Chelangat, Jecinta Macheso and Ndiema Chemtai.

KCB won the first set 25-19 but Nairobi Water, under national team’s assistant coach Joseph Waiganjo, took the second 25-20. KCB won the third 25-23 before Nairobi Water won fourth and fifth 25-22 and 15 -12 respectively.

During the awards gala at Jambo Village Hotel in Mombasa, women’s champions Pipeline and men’s winners GSU each received trophies, medals and Sh125,000 from Kenya Volleyball Federation’s chairman Waithaka Kioni.

Kioni said he was impressed by the high standards of competition witnessed at the event. 

“We have had a successful season, particularly in women’s  volleyball. We can only improve,” an elated Kioni said. Prisons and GSU men will represent Kenya at next year’s African Club Championships.

African champions Kenya Prisons, league champions Kenya Pipeline and runners-up KCB will play in the women’s category.