Ofwenje- The sitting volleyball revolutionarist

The  society we live in has numerous groups of people. Those who are upright and can adequately take care of themselves and those who are often called the marginalized or vulnerable groups. 

The Sitting Volleyball team no doubt deserves special care and attention as they are very vulnerable. It is comprised of people who have their limbs amputated or for one reason or the other, are immobile due to polio.

8:00 am, and the scorching sun hits the beautiful scenery of Nakuru town. 4km away from Nakuru town is Afraha stadium, a sports ground that brings together sports personalities and enthusiasts from different regions.

Meet Florence Ofwenje, a former volleyball player who has volunteered to coach the Nakuru sitting volleyball team. Close to 20 disabled players converge in this stadium for a training session. But before the training kicks off, it is routine for the team to start with a word of prayer. 

When Ofwenje was retrenched from the Kenya Posta and Telecommunication Company in 2007 she opted to use her volleyball skills to nurture the talents of the younger generation.  

 Owenje found sitting volleyball tough but after a training on how to coach people with disabilities, she became used to mode of play. The sport is played on a smaller court and with a lower net than regular volleyball, and players must keep their rears in contact with the court except for briefly when receiving. 

Nakuru sitting volleyball team comprises of 18 men and 15 women who have been training at Afraha stadium for the last two years, but according to coach Florence Ofwenje, they have not been able to make strides owing to lack of funds.  

The team is now preparing for national trials that will be held this August in Makueni County. Nakuru sitting volleyball team will field a total 24 players during the trials. The players who will be selected during the trials will represent Kenya in the Africa Para volley championship that will be held in Rwanda later this year.