In photos: Kenya bids goodbye to volleyball icon Wanja

Emotions triggering tributes poured as family, friends, colleagues and associates gathered at the Kasarani Indoor Arena – Nairobi for a memorial service of fallen Kenyan volleyball icon Janet Wanja on Thursday.

The tributes were preceded by a moving sermon, with the preacher reminding the mourners the value of life as a servant – in different callings and careers.

"We shared a lot, supporting each other and celebrating our success each time. Soon after Wanja told me about her illness, I visited her and a shared moments of joy reminding her how we all loved her," said Roseline Odhiambo, her teammate at Malkia Strikers in her tribute.

"Wanja was an incredible human with much passion and dedication in the volleyball sport, who inspired the youth to reach their target with her training skills, and she was ready to give her best for the national level," Fabio Arzebedo the President o the International Volleyball Federation giving his tribute.

Wanja had a glittering career at both club level and national team, spanning over 15 years, the distinguished setter spending most of her years at Kenya Pipeline Volleyball Club.

She also played for KCB and Rwandan side Armee Patriotique and later Al-shabaab in the United Arab Emirates.

Wanja's talent started shining bright at a young age, as she defied all odds to make it to the Malkia Strikers squad that represented Kenya at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games just at 20.

She thereafter became a dependable setter of the team, until 2020 when she retired.

The volleyball icon died on December 27, 2024 aged 40,  after a brave battle with gallbladder cancer.