St. Martha’s Mwitoti Secondary School have taken the ongoing Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Games by storm. The Western Region champions stunned defending champions Kwanthanze Secondary School in their opening match before seeing off Wajir Girls in straight sets to maintain a perfect start in Pool A.
Their impressive run has also introduced many to one of the team’s brightest talents, opposite hitter Valentine Juma, whose journey to the national stage started with borrowing bus fare just to watch volleyball matches and whose biggest dream is to one day build an academy in her village.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport after helping Mwitoti register another convincing victory, the Form Three student smiled as she recalled how her love for volleyball started long before she wore the school’s colours. Every time she heard that a tournament was taking place in a nearby town, she would rush to her mother and ask for transport money.
She did not travel because she knew the players or expected anything in return. She simply wanted to watch volleyball.”I realised I had talent because whenever I heard there was volleyball being played somewhere, I would ask my mum to give me fare so I could go and watch,” she said.Those trips became part of her learning process.Every match she watched taught her something new, whether it was how attackers approached the net, how defenders positioned themselves or how experienced players remained composed during difficult moments.
By the time she started playing competitively, she already understood the game better than many of her age mates. Her mother never stood in the way of that passion. Instead of questioning why her daughter wanted to spend so much time around volleyball courts, she kept encouraging her and gave whatever little she could afford because she believed the game made her happy.” My mum has always been supportive. She never complained whenever I wanted to travel and watch or play volleyball. She always encouraged me, and that is what made me love the game even more.”
Growing up in Western Kenya also came with challenges that many talented players still face today. Proper volleyball courts were hard to find, and organised training sessions were even harder to come by. Like many children in the village, she improvised with her friends, tying ropes between two trees to create a makeshift net before spending hours playing on rough ground. It is those memories that continue to shape the dream she carries every time she steps onto the court. Rather than only focusing on playing professionally, the Mwitoti attacker wants volleyball to become a tool that changes the lives of children in her community. She hopes the sport will one day give her the resources to establish a junior academy where young players can train in a proper environment without going through the struggles she experienced.” My dream is to build a junior volleyball academy back in my village so that young players can get opportunities that many of us never had. I want them to have a better place to train and develop their talent.”
The person she looks up to most is Kenya Under 20 international and KCB opposite hitter Terry Tata Idachi. Playing in the same position has made her study every aspect of Terry’s game, from her movement around the court to the power behind her attacks, and she hopes to follow a similar path in the years ahead.”I admire Terry a lot because she plays in the same position as me. Whenever I watch her play, I always tell myself that one day I also want to reach that level.””I also want to win trophies and receive awards the way she does.”Her own breakthrough came while she was still in Standard Six after impressing in primary school competitions.
The performances eventually earned her a scholarship to St. Martha’s Mwitoti Secondary School, relieving her parents of the burden of paying school fees while giving her an opportunity to continue developing both in class and on the volleyball court.”Volleyball has already changed my life because I am studying on scholarship. My parents no longer have to worry about paying school fees, and that motivates me to keep working hard.”Asamoah Gyan reveals how Africa can develop more football talent.
She insists education remains just as important as volleyball and hopes to excel in her examinations before joining university, where she plans to continue playing at a higher level.”I want good grades because I want to join university and continue playing volleyball. I believe the sport will continue opening doors for me.”While her long-term ambitions stretch beyond the school games, the immediate target remains helping Mwitoti complete what has already been a memorable campaign in Thika.
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Having shocked Kwanthanze and maintained an unbeaten run in the group stage, belief within the camp continues to grow with every passing match.”We have not come here to participate. We have come here to win the trophy and take it back to Western Kenya.”She also credited principal Samuel Ogola for creating an environment where the team continues to thrive, saying his willingness to support the players and allow them to compete in different tournaments has played a huge role in their rise.
Mombasa United turn to former Yanga SC head coach ahead of Premier League debut”Our principal is our biggest supporter. He always ensures we attend tournaments and watch other matches because he wants us to improve. We have achieved so much because he believes in us.”As Mwitoti continue their quest for national glory, the powerful opposite hitter knows every point she scores is taking her a step closer to a dream that has never changed. It is not just about becoming a professional volleyball player or lifting trophies.It is about returning to the same village where she once borrowed bus fare to watch the game she loved and ensuring the next generation only has to carry a ball to begin their journey.