Women’s volleyball team assigned ‘special security’
Security has been tightened at the Kasarani Indoor Arena, the venue of the 2015 CAVB Women’s Africa Nations Championships.
According to a report from the sport’s continental body CAVB, several plain clothed “invisible” security personel, consisting players from the Kenya Volleyball Clubs have been deployed at the facility to provide security, especially in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in the country.
Kenya Volleyball Federation’s top flight league is dominated by players from the Police Service and para-military clubs such as the General Service Unit (GSU), Administration Police, Forest Rangers Services and the Kenya Defence Forces (Ulinzi).
While Kenyan men’s team are yet to kick-start their preparation for the Men’s African Nations Championship in July, 2015 to be staged in Egypt, majority of the security at the venue, are volleyball players who have put on a different hat.
SECURITY PERSONNEL
Other than providing the most vital service in any competition – security – the members of Kenya’s mens’ team are also here to offer moral support to their female comptriots.
The players, mostly drawn from the dreaded GSU, a paramilitary force with special training to deal with violence and terrorism, have been spotted at every entry and exit point.
Other national team players such as Kenya men’s national team first setter and assistant captain, Elisha Aliwa who last represented the country at Africa Zone 5-All Africa Games qualifiers in Rwanda, Salome Wanjala, second setter with Kenya Prisons (women) and Elijah Bosire, a setter with newly formed Nairobi Water (men) are also volunteering their services at the VIS desks.
Meanwhile, the loyal home fans have not missed fun for a moment during the tournament has provided plenty of side shows off the court. Amongst the entertainers at Kasarani is an ‘Isikuti’ dance troop that has added quite some pomp to the event.