Newly appointed Kenya men's national volleyball team head coach Gideon Tarus has named eight first-time call-ups in a 25-man provisional squad ahead of the CAVB Zone V African Nations Volleyball Championship Qualifiers.
The qualifiers for both senior men and women will be held June 1–5, 2026, at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium.
In the list released on Sunday evening, the Kenya Volleyball Federation said Tarus and his technical bench will be fully responsible for selecting the final squad that will represent Kenya in Kampala.
The technical team includes first assistant coach Elisha Aliwa and second assistant Dennis Mokua.
The eight newcomers earning their first national team call-ups are Stephen Barack, Felix Otieno, Dillon Chumba, Moses Kamau, Elvis Mein, Felix Ogembo, Bethwell Kiplagat and Amos Karani.
The provisional squad includes three liberos: Stephen Barack of Administration Police (AP), Hudson Kipchumba of General Service Unit (GSU) and Sam Juma of Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
In the setters category, Brian Melly of Rwanda Police has been called up alongside Kelvin Kipkosgei of Prisons Kenya, Felix Otieno of KPA, and Dillon Chumba of Trailblazers.
The technical bench also selected four opposites, including Peter Kamara of KPA, Joshua Kimaru of GSU, and Simon Kipkorir and Enock Mogeni, both currently playing in Qatar.
Seven outside hitters have been named in the squad: Stephen Maluki and Dennis Esokoni of Prisons Kenya, Moses Kamau of Chema, Nicholas Matui of Rwanda Energy Group (REG) in Rwanda, Elvis Mein of GSU, Dennis Omollo of KPA, and Bethwell Kiplagat of Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company Limited (ELDOWAS).
The squad also includes seven middle blockers, led by Felix Ogembo of Kenya Airport Police Unit (KAPU). Others are Wilson Cheruiyot of Equity Bank, Levis Ogutu and Eugine Okello of Chema, Shadrack Misiko of GSU, Brian Kamonde of KPA, and Amos Karani of KDF.
Tarus and his technical bench now have about two and a half months to assess the players before trimming the squad to the final 14 that will represent Kenya at the tournament in Kampala, Uganda.
