‘Not Ready’ Kenya Lose Hosting Rights for Regional Tournament

Kenya has been stripped of the hosting rights for a regional volleyball championship after being deemed unprepared to stage the event.

The country will no longer host the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone V Club Championship for both men and women, following concerns over its readiness. The tournament was scheduled to take place in Nairobi from February 8–16, but those plans have now been shelved after Kenya failed to meet the required standards, although the specific reasons have not been disclosed.

In an official communication, CAVB Zone V President Sadik Nasiwu confirmed the decision, citing the Kenya Volleyball Federation’s inability to host the championship as planned.

“We regret to inform you that the above Championship that was set for 8th to 16th February in Kenya has been pushed following Kenya Volleyball Federation’s inability to host as scheduled,” read part of the circular.

Nasiwu added that the regional body would announce a new host nation and venue in due course, while apologising for the inconvenience caused to participating teams and stakeholders. He also noted that all other zonal competitions on the calendar will proceed as planned.

Who Makes Up the Tournament?

The annual Zone V Club Championship brings together leading volleyball clubs from 12 countries within the region. These include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Egypt, among others. The competition plays a crucial role in ranking clubs and serves as a qualification pathway for continental African tournaments.

Kenya had secured the hosting rights in November after outbidding Uganda and Ethiopia to stage the fourth edition of the championship. Expectations were high for Nairobi to deliver a successful event.

Last year’s nine-day tournament was hosted by Uganda, with Rwanda’s APR dominating the competition by clinching both the men’s and women’s titles. Rwanda has previously hosted the championship in 2019 and 2023.

With just over two weeks remaining before the proposed start date, uncertainty now surrounds the tournament as CAVB officials work to identify a suitable alternative host.