Committee sets burial date for fallen KVF boss Waithaka Kioni

Fallen Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) President Waithaka Kioni will be laid to rest next Wednesday 19 May at his rural home in Kiamwangi village in Gatundu, Kiambu County.

The former journalist and a long serving sports administrator reportedly collapsed on Saturday 8 April before succumbing around 1am upon being rushed to the hospital.

The Funeral Organizing Committee chairman Edward Kisaka, a former Kenyan international, announced the burial date during a Zoom Meeting organized by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) on Tuesday night.

“A large number of mourners are expected to flock his home and we are determined to organize a befitting burial for our icon, a man of his stature.

We are in constant communication with the family to have a respectable send off. We have daily meetings at the Sagas Hotel along Thika road, in Nairobi at 5:30pm.

We are also in the process of getting an M-PESA Paybill and once we get it, we will share with the public so that they can channel their contribution there,” said Kisaka.

Until his demise, Kioni was also serving as the KVF president, a post he was set to leave later this month when the federation is set to hold its elections.

Kioni was first elected as the Kenya Volleyball Association (KVA) national chairman in 1998 before the federation changed its name to Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) in 2000.

He, however, resigned before completing his term after 2000 Sydney Olympics.

He made a comeback in 2006 and has been at the helm ever since. Under his leadership, the women’s national team, Malkia Strikers, have won four African Women’s Cup of Nations titles, four African Games gold medals and the historic FIVB Grand Prix Group 3 victory.

They have also participated at the Olympics and World Championships in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

He was also the CAVB vice president.

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