Edinah Rotich facts for kids

Edinah Jemutai Rotich, also known as Edna or Ednah, was born on March 29, 1981. She is a talented Kenyan volleyball player who once led her country's national team as captain. Later in her career, she also worked for Kenya's First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta.

Life and Volleyball Career

Early Life and First Games

Edinah Rotich was born in 1981 in a city called Eldoret in Kenya. She started her volleyball journey early. In 2006, she played beach volleyball with her teammate Gladys Munge.

Representing Kenya

In 2007, Edinah was part of the Kenyan national team that competed in the FIVB Women's World Cup. At that time, she played for the Friends Volleyball Club. Most of the other players on the national team came from different clubs, like Kenya Prisons or Kenya Commercial Bank. Some of her teammates included famous players such as Jane Wacu, Dorcas Nakhomicha Ndasaba, Janet Wanja, Mercy Moim, Catherine Wanjiru, and Brackcides Khadambi. The Kenyan team played very well and managed to beat Algeria to win their match. Dorcas Ndasaba was even named the best player after scoring the winning point!

Edinah was chosen again in 2010 to join the team for the FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship. She was still the only player from the Friends Volleyball Club on the national team. For this championship, Brackcides Khadambi was the team's captain. In 2011, Edinah herself became the team captain. Later, she even took on the role of managing the national team.

In February 2012, Edinah and the Kenyan team traveled to Algeria to compete for a spot in the 2012 London Olympics. The Kenyan team was known as the African champions. However, they were defeated by the home team, Algeria, who then went on to represent Africa at the Olympics in London.

Beach Volleyball Success

Edinah continued to excel in beach volleyball. In 2014, she was in Entebbe, where she and her partner, Juma Yelena, won the Castle Light International Beach Volleyball Championship. She also continued to win beach volleyball cups while partnered with Eunice Maiyo.

Working with the First Lady

From 2014 to 2015, Edinah Rotich took on a special role. She became the Aide de Camp for Kenya's First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta. An Aide de Camp is a personal assistant who helps a high-ranking official with their duties. Edinah worked in the First Lady's office during this time.

Giving Back

Beyond her sports career and public service, Edinah Rotich is also involved in important causes. She is a supporter of the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, which works to ensure fairness and health in sports by preventing athletes from using banned substances. She also serves on the advisory board of the Love Kenya Foundation, an organization that helps communities.