Kenya Prisons lift Nyerere Cup in Tanzania

Prisons dominated home boys Serengeti 3-1 sets (25-21, 22-25, 25-19, and 25-20) in the final to lift the 26th edition held at the Temeke Mwembeyanga Sports Complex while fellow countrymen Chema VC finished third.

The annual regional championship had drawn teams from Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda.

The Nyerere Cup, is held every year in honour of former Tanzania President Julius Nyerere.

The warders topped Pool ‘A’, which also had Tanzania’s JKT and Rukinzo of Burundi, before sweeping JKT 3-0 in the quarterfinals and overcoming fellow Kenyan side Chema VC in straight sets (25-22, 25-20, 25-23) in the semi-finals.

In the third-place playoff, Chema VC displayed great resilience, coming from a set down to defeat Rukinzo of Burundi 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-22, 25-18) to secure the bronze medal.

The result marked another milestone for Chema, a newly promoted side to the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) League top tier after earning promotion from Division Two.

The Juja-based outfit has quickly established itself as one of Kenya’s rising volleyball forces, having recently finished second at the Rwanda Genocide Memorial Volleyball Tournament, where they knocked out Kenya Cup finalists Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in the semifinals before falling to Rwanda’s REG in the final.

For Kenya Prisons, who finished fourth in both the National League play-offs and the inaugural Kenya Cup, the Nyerere Cup triumph provides a timely morale boost as they prepare for the new domestic season.

Kenya Prisons’ dominance was further reflected in the tournament’s individual awards, with several of their players named in the Nyerere Cup 2025 Dream Team.

Outside hitter Denis Esokon was named both the Best Outside Hitter and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after a series of standout performances, while head coach Denis Mokua took home the Best Coach award.

Nyerere Cup 2025 Dream Team – Individual Awards

Best Setter: Kelvin Maiyo (Kenya Prisons)

Best Opposite: Mike Chemos (Kenya Prisons)

Best Middle Blockers:

Levis Ogutu (Chema VC)

Emmanuel Kosgei (Kenya Prisons)

Best Receiver: Dennis Omollo (Serengeti)

Best Libero:

Peter Kibata (Kenya Prisons)

Abel Kipkoech (Serengeti)

Best Outside Hitter & Most Valuable Player (MVP): Denis Esokon (Kenya Prisons)

Best Coach: Denis Mokua (Kenya Prisons)