This archive report was first published on 31 October 2021.
Wacu Eve: A Volleyball Star Born to Win ¶
At 36, Wacu Eve is a household name in Kenyan volleyball, celebrated as Africa's most awarded setter and the first African to break into the world's top-10 most valued volleyball players.
However, her journey to stardom was far from easy. Born and raised in Nyeri County, Wacu's humble upbringing was marked by financial struggles, with her mother unable to raise school fees for all her children.
Wacu attended DEB Primary School in Nyeri, where she had to wear tattered school uniforms and often had to drop out of school due to financial constraints. Despite these challenges, she found solace in sports, particularly volleyball, which she discovered in Form Two.
With the support of her mother, who was a tailor, Wacu excelled in volleyball, becoming a setter for the national team, Malkia Strikers. Her talent caught the attention of coaches and scouts, who offered her a spot in the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) team, among others.
Wacu's breakthrough came in 2006, when she was part of the national team that competed in the FIVB World Championships in Japan. The team, led by coach Sadatoshi Sugawara and assisted by Paul Bitok, included big names like Dorcas Ndasaba and Mildred Odwako.
After the event, Wacu returned home with Sh800,000, a significant amount that signaled to her that volleyball could be her livelihood. She went on to lead the Kenya Prisons Women's Volleyball team to five consecutive national titles and became the first African setter to achieve the top 10 setters in the world.
Today, Wacu is a prison officer stationed at the Peace Support Training Centre at the Kenyan Defence Staff College. She has opted to take a break from the national team to focus on talent search and help young people interested in sports.
Wacu's story is a testament to her resilience and determination. Despite facing numerous challenges, she has emerged as a volleyball star, inspiring countless young athletes with her remarkable journey.
