The Kenya Para-Volleyball Federation will stage the national event from May 18 to 20 in order to make its selections for the African Para Games, which are due to take place from September 3 to 12.

Male and female sitting volleyball players from 21 counties will be competing for places.

Yesterday, Kenya Para Volley Federation’s Uasin Gishu chapter said Eldoret was ready to host the event but renewed its calls for adequate funding for preparations.

The country’s Para volleyball team said they were also preparing to compete at the 2024 Paralympic qualifiers scheduled for November in Cairo, Egypt.

The Uasin Gishu Para volleyball team has been training at the Eldoret Town Hall after being selected at the County’s Governor’s Cup which came to a close two weeks ago.

Players for both the men's and women's Uasin Gishu sitting volleyball squad said they were hopeful of winning places at the national trials and forming the largest part of the national teams.

"This time we started our preparations early because we had the Uasin Gishu Governor’s Cup," Uasin Gishu sitting volleyball team captain Luke Cheboi said.

"We have young and experienced players in the team and with good training we have to play a good match.

"Nairobi and Siaya teams are strong but we are ready for them.

"As captain I am impressed with the team."

Women's team captain Beatrice Cherop said she was confident that three months of training would propel her team to the national title and a healthy quota of Games places.

"We will have the home support and we hope to capitalise on that," she said.

The Uasin Gishu teams' coach, Joseph Arondo, said the Governor's Cup offered a perfect opportunity for team selection.

He said the team was established in 2010 but had lacked sponsorship, which resulted in poor training and inconsistency at tournaments.

"The team is well-trained this time," he said, "after the support from Uasin Gishu County."

Uasin Gishu Kenya Para-Volleyball Federation chair Joseph Ochieng asked Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba to support the national team, saying it had the potential for competing at the 2024 Paralympics.