Kenya Pipeline Volleyball Club has announced plans to retire the iconic jersey number 7 in honor of volleyball legend Janet Wanja, who passed away last night after battling a rare gallbladder cancer. Wanja, 40, was receiving palliative care at her home in Nairobi at the time of her death.
Wanja, a celebrated setter, wore jersey number 7 during her tenure at Kenya Pipeline from 2005 to 2019, having joined the club in 2004 after a stint with KCB.
In a statement, Kenya Pipeline Company Managing Director Joe Sang praised Wanja’s remarkable contribution to the club, where she won four Kenya National Volleyball League titles and earned multiple medals in the ten African Club Championships she participated in.
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“Wanja was one of the best setters in Kenya’s volleyball history, and her presence on the court will be deeply missed. In her honor, Kenya Pipeline Volleyball Club will retire her iconic jersey number 7 from all future team engagements,” said Sang.
He also expressed gratitude to the Kenya Volleyball Federation, the National Olympic Committee, Football Kenya Federation (FKF), and the broader Kenyan sports community for their support during this difficult time.
Kenya Pipeline further mourned Wanja as a leader and an inspiration, both on and off the court.
“She was a mentor, teacher, and trainer whose resilience and determination inspired a new generation of volleyball players,” the statement read.
Wanja, who also played for Malkia Strikers from 2004 to 2019, was diagnosed with the rare form of cancer a few months ago, shortly after returning from the Paris Olympics, where she served as a trainer for the national team.
