Kenya Prisons and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) are now one victory away from lifting the 2025/2026 Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) National League titles after making winning starts in their respective finals at the Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium on Friday.
The two sides claimed crucial game one victories to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three finals, leaving them with the chance to wrap up the championships if they win again when the competition resumes at the same venue on Saturday.
In the women's final, Kenya Prisons produced a determined display to defeat defending champions Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) 3-1 in a tightly contested match.
Prisons took the opening set 25-23 before Pipeline responded by dominating the second set 25-16 to level the contest. The third set proved to be the turning point, with Prisons holding their nerve to edge it 29-27 before sealing the match with another narrow 25-23 victory in the fourth set.
The win gives Kenya Prisons a valuable advantage as they head into the second day of the finals needing only one more victory to reclaim the national title.
The men's final later in the day produced the most thrilling contest of the tournament as KPA recovered from the brink of defeat to overcome Chema VC 3-2 in a dramatic five-set battle.
KPA started strongly by taking the opening set 25-19, but league newcomers Chema VC fought back impressively to win the second and third sets 25-22 and 29-27, moving within one set of a memorable victory.
With their experience showing when it mattered most, KPA responded by comfortably taking the fourth set 25-17 to force a deciding fifth set.
Chema VC appeared to be in complete control after opening up an 11-6 lead in the decider, but KPA mounted a remarkable comeback, overturning the deficit to snatch the set 16-14 and complete a hard-earned victory.
The result hands KPA a 1-0 lead in the series and leaves them just one win away from securing the men's league title.
Attention now shifts to Saturday's second matches, where both Kenya Prisons and KPA will be aiming to finish the job and be crowned the 2025/2026 KVF National League champions.
For Chema VC, Saturday presents a must-win encounter if they are to keep alive hopes of claiming a maiden national league title in their debut season in the top tier. Victory would force the finals into a decisive third match on Sunday.