Game of musical chairs takes center stage ahead of crucial national swimming elections

Kenya Aquatics Federation (formerly Kenya Swimming Federation) fate, for yet another time in the last months, hangs in the balance with a few hours left until the national elections scheduled for Saturday 8 June 2023 at the Kasarani Sports Stadium.

This comes after the uncertainty looming over the polls was on Friday handed a new twist after a public notice, stemming from the High Court of Kenya, was published in the dailies on Friday morning, noticing the public and all interested parties that any in relation to participating in the aid elections would be an action resulting into ‘contempt of court.’

The public notice signed on 6 July 2023 by Charles Kanjama - who represents Muma and Kanjama Advocates, is related to a pending court case filed by two individuals - Margaret Mwasha and Conrad Thorpe - filed on 18 March 2021 addressing three entities; Kenya Swimming Federation, Sports Kenya, the Sports Registrar and the Attorney General.

The petition then offered a temporary injunction on KSF from holding any elections purporting to effect changes in the leadership of the Executive Board.

With the case standing unanswered even after World Aquatics placed Kenya under an approved Stabilization Committee, the new court injunction was rendered by High Court Judge Hon. Lady Justice H.I. Ong’undi, stood the conservatory orders made by Hon. Mr. Justice W. Korir from the aforementioned 18 March 2021 - that issued temporary orders of injunction restraining KSF from inviting applications for elections or conducting the same.

KSF placed under FINA stabilization committee

“Defiance is not an option and the court will not hesitate to punish those who disregard its orders,” the Public Notice on Friday said at the end.

This comes at a time when the body mandated to conduct the 8 July polls - the Centre for Corporate Governance - published a full list of prospective candidates for President, Vice Presidents, Secretary General, Treasurers, Executive Committee Members and Delegates expected to battle for slots should the World Athletics- sanctioned elections take place successfully.

Among the candidates going for the only contested position in the elections will be the duo of Dr Maureen Owiti and Thaddeus Wamunyu - who both have promised to lift the gloomy cloud engulfing the sport should they be elected.

“There is no doubt that we have a lot of untapped talent in the country that needs to be nurtured and offered a proper opportunity to showcase talent and pursue greater heights,” Dr Maureen Owiti spoke of the drive to go for Kenya Aquatics’ top seat this term.

“We have been in a period that we need to learn from and my call would be for everyone with personal interests to let go off any egos and work for the greater good of the game. The athletes need an organized system that will see them rightfully participate in global and regional events.

“The same can be said of coaches whose plans to attend coaching clinics are firm with our plan, as with the long plan to ensure that accountability and transparency is reflected in our workings.”

World Aquatics read Kenyan Swimming the riot act

The same message was promised by Mr Thaddeus Wamunyu, who was high on bringing the house in order, especially given that few if not no structures exist in the office currently.

“We will need to adopt proper mechanisms within CANA and World Aquatics that will ensure that all international events are funded.

“I was part of the initiation process for inclusion of Uasin Gishu, Laikipia, Kajiado and Nyeri counties to the national picture, I will make sure that swimming is devolved across schools in different counties and ensure that courses for coaches at all levels - intermediate and pro - are made available.”

It would be a look further up in the picture, but the future of Kenyan Swimming will be decided in over the weekend, all against the backdrop of World Aquatics banning the sport in the country should elections fail to happen as projected.