Malkia Strikers players cry for their own millions

Malkia Strikers playes lament over unpaid allowances in a video that is viral on social media. [Carol Radull, X]

The Women’s national volleyball team Malkia Strikers, currently in Thailand for the 2025 FIVB World Championship has decried discriminative treatment from the government.

In a video that went viral online on Friday, the players raised concerns that their treatment is not a reflection of how Harambee Stars is being treated by government.

While Harambee Stars, who are representing Kenya in Chan, had good preparations and are also enjoying cash rewards, Malkia Strikers have not even been kitted by the government and neither have their allowances been paid.

Opposite hitter Pamela Adhiambo revealed that the team was not even supported to have adequate preparations for the global event.

She further revealed that it’s Malkia Strikers sponsor Mozzartbet that had gone out of the way to provide playing kits for the team.

“Everything we have is from Mozzartbet even though we are representing our country. If it were not for our sponsor we could not even have a uniform. We could be dressed in different brands depending on what each one of us has. We are disheartened because out kits are supposed to have Kenya on them but they don’t,” Adhiambo said.

It was not however, clear why the players were asking for kits from the government, yet it is the duty of the federation to ensure a team for any championship is kitted.

Even teams going to the Olympic Games or the Commonwealth Games, for example, are kitted by the National Olympic Committee-Kenya through a deal with kit manufacturers, which in the case of Kenya has been Nike.

Team captain Meldina Sande asked the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) and the government to step up and give the team the support they need and also pay all their allowances.

“We ask the federation to tell us where our money is. I appeal to the federation and President Ruto William, who is a lover of sports, to ensure that we are paid our allowances because we are doing national duty,” Meldina said.

She noted that it was through the support of the sponsor that they had a residential camp because KVF failed to secure funding from the government to put them in camp.

KVF deputy president Paul Bitok, who said he had remained behind to follow up on the players' allowances, said on Friday that some players had received their allowances.

"We are pleased to confirm that players' allowances have been credited to their respective accounts. For Co-operative Bank account holders, funds have already reflected.

"For those in other banks, the process may take one or two days. We sincerely apologise for the delay, but rest assured, everything has been sorted out," Bitok said.

Kenya will be battling 31 other nations for the global title among them their African rivals Egypt and Cameroon.

The Kenyan girls must be at their best as they seek to finish in the top two of their pool to advance to the round of 16.

They have to win two out of their three pool matches against Germany, Poland and Vietnam.

Coach Geoffrey Omondi will field a blend of experienced players as well as newcomers to the national outfit.

Omondi and Sande will be hoping to get it right as they look to make an impact on their first time at the helm of the national outfit.

Malkia Strikers will be hoping to improve on their 2022 performance, where they were eliminated at the group stage.

Malkia Strikers registered a win against compatriots Cameroon to finish fifth in the pool.

Kenya lost to Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Puerto Rico to exit the championship in the preliminaries.