Malkia head coach Bitok recalls ‘goodbye’ from KVF president Waithaka Kioni before shock death on Sunday

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 11 – National women’s volleyball team head coach Paul Bitok has recalled his last meeting with Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) president Waithaka Kioni before the latter’s demise on early Sunday morning after a sudden illness.

 Bitok said Kioni was at the Sportsview Hotel in Kasarani on Wednesday last week during the draws for the inaugural Paul Bitok International Volleyball Tournament that was held last weekend.

“This news has come at the worst time when we are holding the Paul Bitok International tournament. He was there with us last week when we were doing the draws for the competition. With two weeks to go until the national elections for KVF, it was sort of a goodbye to us as he prepared to retire as president,” Bitok said.

The inaugural edition of the tournament, that attracted 16 men and eight women’s teams, had served off on Friday at Nyayo Stadium, Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani and Ulinzi Complex in Langata.

However, following the demise of the volleyball supremo, the semi-final matches set for Sunday were postponed in honour of Kioni even as the Kenyan sports fraternity continues mourning.

The experienced coach eulogized Kioni as a mentor who had given him the chance to live his dream as a volleyball player and coach.

“He has mentored us as players and now as a coach, he has  given me the chance to be a national team coach. He was now showing me how to be a leader in this volleyball family. It is a sad moment for me in particular,” Bitok, who is eyeing the deputy president’s post at KVF, said.

Kioni was also the second vice president of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) and was Team Kenya’s chef-de-mission at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

He founded Kenya Pipeline, the reigning champions of the women’s league, who have shone internationally over the years and produced some of the best volleyballers on the continent.

In a condolence message, Kenya National Sports Council chair Ndiritu Gikaria, applauded Kioni for his great contribution to the growth of Kenyan volleyball.

“Close to 40 years ago, he established the Kenya Pipeline Volleyball Club which has been a formidable team in the league and a feeder to our formidable African queens, the volleyball national ladies team famously known as Malkia Stars (sic),” Gikaria said.

In 2011, Kioni was elected as the vice-president of the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB), a position he held until his death.