5,000 Seater Kasarani Venue To Host Thousands For Janet Wanja Memorial
Wanja passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2024, just weeks after her family revealed she was suffering from gallbladder cancer.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The 5,000 seater Moi International Sports Centre Indoor arena in Kasarani, Nairobi County is expected to play host to thousands of Kenyans attending a public memorial service for former Malkia Strikers star and Kenyan volleyball legend Janet Wanja on Thursday, January 2.
Wanja passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2024, just weeks after her family revealed she was suffering from gallbladder cancer. Her death at 40 years old was confirmed on the evening of that day by her family, who released a statement saying she had lost the battle with the disease.
In the same statement, the family also thanked Kenya Pipeline, who offered to cater for 100% of her medical bills earlier in December after a financial appeal was made to aid in her treatment.
Wanja will be buried on Friday, January 3 at the Lang’ata Cemetery, Nairobi in a private family ceremony. The 5,000-seater is expected to host thousands of fans, former players, friends from the sporting world, political figures, National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) officials, government officials, family and friends to celebrate and honour the life of the former Malkia Strikers setter.
The indoor arena where her memorial service will be held was her final local centre of duty where she led Malkia Strikers' final training session before heading to Miramas for the pre-Olympics training camp in July 2024.
Photo of the late Janet Wanja. /FILE
A media invite obtained by Viral Tea indicated that the service will start at 9.30 am and will be open to all members of the public.
Wanja’s body is lying at the Montezuma Funeral Home along Mbagathi Road, Nairobi. The body of the former Kenya Pipeline setter who served the sport for 15 years will leave Montezuma Funeral Home for the service that is scheduled to run until 1 pm. The public will however not be allowed to view the body of Wanja today at the request of the family.
NOC-K Secretary General Francis Mutuku, who is also a member of Wanja’s burial committee, said her memorial service and burial plans were at an advanced stage to ensure she gets a send-off that reflects her status not only in the country but also in the world.
“We are in the final stages and everything is on course. (Tuesday) we visited Kasarani indoor arena where the service will be held just to ensure everything was okay. Wanja served the sport the best way she knew how and we want to give her a befitting send-off,” commented Mutuku.
Janet Wanja Profile
Wanja was one of the longest-serving players on the Kenya Pipeline volleyball team, playing from 2005 until her retirement in 2019. She first played for the national team in 2004 during the Athens Olympics Games and had a distinguished international career before calling it a day in 2017 after the Continental Olympic qualifiers in Italy.
At the club level, the Mukumu Girls High School alumnus had a short stint at KCB in 2005 before joining Kenya Pipeline in 2006 where she retired in 2019.
Wanja won four Kenya Volleyball Federation National League titles with Kenya Pipeline (2014-2017). She was part of the Malkia Strikers team that won the historic 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix in Australia.
She also won four African championship titles in 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2015. All the titles were won in Nairobi endearing her well with her passionate fans.
Further, she won bronze medals at the 2007 and 2011 Africa Games in Algeria and Mozambique respectively. Wanja made three World Championship appearances, in Japan in 2006 and 2010) and in Italy in 2014.
She also played in three World Cups that were hosted by Japan in 2007,2011 and 2015. Wanja also made multiple African Women’s Clubs Championship appearances.
Upon retirement, she transitioned into coaching, taking up a role as the Malkia strikers' fitness trainer. Her first assignment came in January 2024 at the East Africa Community Games in Kigali, Rwanda, from January 29 to February 5.
Wanja, popular for her resolute spirit, also remarkably went with the Malkia Strikers to the Paris Olympic games in 2024 despite quietly battling gallbladder cancer. Her team was, however unfortunate to crash out after three straight defeats to Brazil, Poland and Japan. Those defeats saw them finish bottom of their group.
Besides being the national team’s trainer, Wanja also partly worked as the gym instructor at Kenya Pipeline, her former club. Her death came as a shock to the Kenyan sporting fraternity, who were optimistic she would fend off her cancer diagnosis.
Harambee Stars and Al-Duhail striker Michael Olunga was among the first notable names to mourn the former Malkia Strikers star in a heartfelt statement. “Gone too soon. Your contribution to Volleyball in Kenya and the sports industry was immense and will never go unnoticed," he said.
Janet Wanja at the 2024 Paris Olympics. /JANET WANJA
President William Ruto also mourned the Malkia Strikers legend, hailing her as a national hero.
"Janet Wanja, a gifted and disciplined volleyball star, served the cause of our country’s sports with honour and dedication," the President said, adding "May it be comfort to her family, friends and the wider sports fraternity that we are praying for them at this tough and difficult time.
