Ababu Namwamba appoints team to help stop World Aquatics from banning Kenya
By Vincent Voiyoh, July 12, 2023Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has appointed a five-member team as he races to stop World Aquatics from banning the Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) from international competitions.
Speaking exclusively to People Daily Sport, Namwamba said the Sports Ministry was working round the clock to ensure that the challenges facing the federation are resolved and elections conducted.
The election is one of the conditions that World Aquatics wants met before the end of the year or else the country will be locked out of international competitions.KSF last held elections in 2014.
“We are helping the Swimming Federation so that we get out of these troubles facing us at the moment,” Namwamba said. “Right now we have different factions pulling in opposite sides and because of the current situation and I have appointed a five-member committee to help them come together and resolve the issues.
The CS said the government was committed to finding a long-term solution to the challenges facing the federation.
“We have an active case in court and, therefore, it is difficult to have elections before a decision is made or the matter is addressed conclusively,” he said.
Kenya is serving a provisional suspension and cannot take part in any international swimming competitions. However, Kenyan swimmers can compete at global levels as individual, neutral athletes. A ban for Kenya would mean that there be no international grants and competitions for the country’s athletes altogether.
World Aquatics had set a deadline for July 8 — four days ago — for KSF to conduct elections but that is yet to happen. The development has sparked fears of the World Aquatics locking Kenya out for an unspecified period.
Kenya has already asked for an extension to get its house in order.
“I have been talking to World Aquatics and I have invited them to be directly involved. I have previously met with top officials when they came to Nairobi and I know they will be willing to come again as we look to settle the issues,” the CS told People Daily Sport.
Those appointed to the committee whose membership is yet to be made public are a parent, a representative from the Ministry of Sports and swimming stakeholders. World Aquatics will be an observer.
“I would like this task to be completed before the end of the year and if it means elections to be done in one month’s time then that will be better,” Namwamba said.