KSF stakeholders all but resolved in wait for World Aquatics decision

Kenya Aquatics is now awaiting the final decision by the international body in charge of swimming in the world - World Aquatics - following a stakeholders' general meeting on Monday 10 July afternoon.

The decision is expected to be made any time this month, with the anticipation being late this week, as members of the World Aquatics Congress are set to converge this week in Fukuoka, Japan for the World Aquatics Championships that runs from 14-30 July, and the World Aquatics General Congress.

In Monday’s meeting, however, 100 members and stakeholders of Kenya Aquatics participated in a poll set to make known the direction the federation would take moving forward.

The poll was on two queries; whether they should have another Interim Management Committee (IMC) take charge, and whether the Stabilization Committee should declare the nominated members - all unopposed from Saturday’s postponed elections - as their new leaders.

Kenya Aquatics stakeholders 'disheartened' by failed elections, plead to Stabilization Committee for justice

In the single choice polls shared, 91% of the members voted against the appointment of an IMC, with 97% members voting in favor of staying of the unopposed members as the new federation leadership.

Should World Aquatics representatives offer Kenya a reprieve, one source stated that the results from Monday’s meeting would provide the roadmap for future engagements.

The development comes at a time when Kenyan swimmers were missing from the field of international swimmers set to participate in the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka.

The Kenya Swimming Federation, after two days of intense National Swimming Trials held at the Kasarani Aquatics Arena in May 2023 announced a group of four swimmers set for the said championships.

Among them were; Olympian Emily Muteti, Maria Brunlehner, Maina Monyo and UK-based Abubakar Ridhwan.

Whether that comes as an eye-opener for things to come remains to be seen, as Kenya stares at a bunch of ban ramifications including; ban on swimmer and referee participation in International Swimming meets, no swimming scholarships, cross border engagements, nor reception of World Aquatics Grants.

The anxious wait has just begun.