The family of former Malkia Strikers star Janet Wanja on Monday, December 9, revealed she was battling cancer, hence her absence from the sporting world in recent months.
Through a statement on social media, Wanja's family appealed to the public for support after revealing the volleyball star was suffering from gallbladder cancer.
"Wanja, who was the Malkia strikers trainer at the Paris 2024 Olympic games has been diagnosed with gallbladder cancer and is currently undergoing treatment in Nairobi," a statement from the family read.
"On behalf of the family, we hereby request emotional support during this difficult time as we pray for her quick recovery."
Kenyans.co.ke has since learnt that Wanja has been battling the illness for a while, but the family had initially opted against going public with her condition, until now.
Wanja, a retired volleyball star, who has been the face of Kenya's volleyball team for nearly a decade, transitioned to coaching and landed a role as the Malkia strikers' fitness trainer.
One of her first assignments as a trainer came in January 2024 at the East Africa Community Games in Kigali, Rwanda, from January 29 to February 5.
Under her stewardship, Kenya's volleyball team maintained her status as the highest-ranked nation in Africa with 180 points during one of the latest rankings by the International Volleyball Federation.
This was largely due to the Malkia strikers' participation in the African Games, Africa Cup of Nations, Intercontinental Olympics qualifier and the World Cup.
Wanja and the Malkia Strikers also made it to the Paris Olympic games, where they were unfortunate to crash out after three straight defeats to Brazil, Poland and Japan. Those defeats saw them finish bottom of their group.
Despite the disappointment in Paris, Wanja, who is widely known for her fighting spirit, openly expressed her determination to change the narrative as far as Kenyan volleyball was concerned.
During her club career, she represented KCB from 2004 to 2005 before making the move to Pipeline, where she played until her retirement in 2019.
Her playing career is adorned with accolades, including five Africa Nations Championships, three All-African Games titles, and the World Grand Prix title.
