Kenya’s swimming community can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the World Aquatic Body has officially lifted the country’s ban from international competitions.
In a letter directed to Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, Francis Mutuku, the Secretary-General of the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK), confirmed the communication from the World Aquatics, heralding the end of Kenya’s pariah status in the sport.
Mutuku stated, “We refer to the above and are pleased to inform you that we have received communication from the Vice President of the World Aquatics Executive Committee confirming the immediate lifting of the ban on Kenya Swimming.”
He added, “We extend our gratitude for your unwavering support and guidance throughout this process. Kenyan swimmers can now proudly represent our nation.”
This development marks the conclusion of a protracted and frustrating period of uncertainty that began in 2019 when Kenya faced a ban from international competitions due to its failure to conduct national elections within the specified deadline of October 30.
The situation escalated when Kenya found itself indefinitely banned in May of the following year due to escalating conflicts among stakeholders in the discipline, including the Interim Management Committee (IMC). Further exacerbating the issue, Kenya failed to hold national elections on two occasions in 2020.
While World Aquatics expressed frustration at the lack of progress in negotiations in August of the current year, CS Namwamba consistently pledged to restore normalcy to the sport, safeguarding the future of many swimmers from sinking into oblivion.
With the ban now behind them, Mutuku cautioned that the real work lies ahead. “While the ban has been lifted, the challenge now is to ensure strict compliance with all the required laws and regulations. We will continue to rely on your support in this endeavour as our swimmers return to the pool,” he concluded.
