Former Malkia Strikers star Janet Wanja has passed away just weeks after her family revealed she was suffering from gallbladder cancer.
Wanja’s death was confirmed on the evening of Thursday, December 26, by her family, who released a statement saying she had lost the battle with the disease.
“The family of Janet Wanja would like to announce her passing on after a brave battle with cancer,” a statement from one of her family members read.
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 was one of the longest-serving players on the Kenya Pipeline volleyball team, playing from 2005 until her retirement in 2019.
The family statement went on, “Our sincere and deepest gratitude goes out to the Kenya Pipeline company for walking the journey with us from the beginning and tirelessly providing all she needed in medical support.”
Wanja’s death has come as a shocker 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.
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.
Arguably Kenya’s best export in female volleyball, Wanja enjoyed a stellar career, having first donned the national team jersey in 2004 in Greece at the Athens Olympics.
A Mukumu Girls High School alumnus, Wanja also famously led the national volleyball team to their seventh Women's African Volleyball Championship on home soil under the stewardship of Sammy Kirongo. During that tournament, she was named the “best setter”.
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 earlier this year 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.
