Kenya Banned From Swimming Competitions
Kenya has been banned from participating in international swimming and other aquatic sports competitions by the World Aquatics governing body.
The ban comes after the Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) failed to hold elections as scheduled. The KSF has not held elections since 2014, with current officials in disagreement over the election structure and other issues. The World Aquatics governing body had given the federation until July 8 to hold an election or face the risk of being blacklisted from global events.
Initially, Kenya was under suspension, with swimmers allowed to participate as individuals but not under the country's flag. However, the governing body has now imposed a total ban, including cutting funding to local swimming associations. The elections, which were scheduled for last month, failed to take place after the Centre of Corporate Governance was unable to provide a returning officer due to alleged coercion and intimidation from various petitioners.
On Monday, the Kenya Aquatics Stabilization Committee announced that Kenyan aquatic competitors will be led by an Interim Management Committee and a Stabilization Committee, as there is currently no duly elected team in the federation due to ongoing legal disputes and injunctions preventing new elections. Despite Sports CS Ababu Namwamba's appointment of a 5-member team to oversee the elections, a public notice published in Friday's newspapers referenced a case lodged at the High Court of Kenya that stopped the elections.
Stakeholders have expressed disappointment and outrage at the situation, with Maureen Owiti, a presidential candidate, blaming unknown individuals for intimidating the returning officer who failed to show up. She is calling for swift action to address the issue and restore morale in the swimming community.
Comments (9)
Black can't swim.
River Lake Nilotes along the Nile have been swimming for 1000s years before white.
its not like we were medalling big time
@ Formerly guest2,international exposure helps them gauge their level of performance against swimmers of the world,and what they need to improve on,and thus win medals...later.But in order to bear fruits,international participation has to be sustained.
Anyway,my main comment is that,all these wrangling,and fighting are driven by lust for money doled out to the swimming federation; from the sports budget.These greedy officials are jostling for positions near the honeypot that's all.Infact the less"they medal" the more there will be clamour for more funding...
Whenever you have to involve Kenyans in any sort of elections, the tribal card will always be a factor unless the elections are held in a homogenous tribal community setting and what will follow is chaos and unnecessary court cases. Kenya needs to be ruled by an absolute monarchy like Eswatini for peace to prevail.
Whenever you have to involve Kenyans in any sort of elections, the tribal card will always be a factor unless the elections are held in a homogenous tribal community setting and what will follow is chaos and unnecessary court cases. Kenya needs to be ruled by an absolute monarchy like Eswatini for peace to prevail.
This is exactly why the wahenga said “Fahali wawili wakipigana, nyasi ndio huumia”. Wakenya cannot agree when it comes to anything to do with elections. No wonder you see our athletes competing for other countries because of foolishness like this.
When are we going to learn-Was Kenya soccer teams,locked out of participation in Africa Cup of Nations for the same reasons?@ Kanyi, Yes it is the athletes who suffer.All that training, sacrifice, commitment,and dedication amounts to zero,because some adults are arguing as to who should be the boss.Shameful.
Chebukati or Rao can help