Sex Scandal: Are volleyball bosses sleeping with Malkia Strikers?

Unknown to diehard fans of the leggy national women’s volleyball team, some randy officials have allegedly been using their positions and influence to prey on the girls in return for team slots, The Nairobian can exclusively reveal.

Our investigations have unearthed a sex scam within the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) that has dogged the team for years.

The shocking allegations involve elected office holders and coaching staff who accompany the girls to international games and tournaments.

“These issues have been raised before. Some of us have even talked publicly about the dirt within the Federation. Why can’t you just go to Facebook? You will find all the information there,” said a female volleyball player on condition of anonymity.

KVF Chairman Waithaka Kioni denied knowledge of sexual harassment and ‘sex for chance’ allegations, saying they could be a creation of disgruntled senior players. He nonetheless promised to crack the whip on any official or coaching staff found engaging inappropriately with team players.

“There is a habit that as players approach the twilight of their careers, they develop funny (sic) characters. Have any of these players complained directly to me? If there are players who have genuine complaints, let them present evidence to their respective clubs.

“KVF has structures and we can conduct investigations and take prompt actions against errant officials and staff. Ethical standards are paramount. I am ready to fire and take legal action against any official who is sleeping with the players,” warned Kioni.

His deputy at the federation, Martin Makokha, said he could neither confirm nor deny the allegations because he was not aware of such incidences.

“It is very unfortunate. We are very close to these girls, but if they don’t share such information with us, it can only mean that the sex is consensual,” said Makokha.

Makokha’s sentiments were echoed by Kioni, who revealed that the drama began after Malkia Strikers won the 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix Group 3 by beating Peru 3-1 at the finals in Canberra, Australia.

“It all started at the airport where senior players met secretly and outrageously demanded that they only wanted to go for the All-Africa Games and not the World Cup. Apparently, someone had misinformed them that the government was going to pay more to teams going for the African games.

“These girls no longer play for their country or for the good of the game, but for money,” complained Kioni.

According to Kioni, it is when the federation stood its ground over team selection that rumours and allegations against KVF officials started. Makokha, while explaining his experience with the girls, said previously, names of some officials have always been mentioned adversely without concrete evidence.

“Where there is no proof, you cannot pin down a colleague because whatever goes on between a man and a woman is not easy to know. But I have talked to (Kipkemei) Sirma (KVF’s second vice-chairman) about the matter and he told me that recently, when the team travelled to Japan, a player simply decided not to take instructions. When you are in a foreign country like Japan, when it is agreed that the team bus will be ready at 8am, be sure that the bus will be ready 10 minutes earlier.

“Sasa watu wanaingia kwa basi and when you want to leave, unaskia ati fulani hayuko. When her roommate went back to check on her, she took her sweet time and 20 minutes later, she was still not ready. When she finally got onto the bus, anakuja kama amefura hataki kuongeleshwa. Even if it were you, what would you do in such a situation?” posed Makokha.

Makokha further explained that for every trip, the accompanying official has a duty to take disciplinary action and file a report on the same upon their return. This, he said, should not be misconstrued as harassment.