Tribunal to help fix KSF divided house

HSSCA-ZZ's Maina Wangechi in the National Swimming Championships at Kasarani, on Saturday. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) Chairman John Ohaga said he is working to ensure that world swimming governing body Federation International de Natation (FINA) will lift Kenya’s suspension.

“There has been delay in Kenya swimming Federation holding elections due to court cases that contributed to the suspension, but we are in the process of streamlining swimming in order to have the suspension lifted, ahead of smooth elections,” said Ohaga.

The federation is facing a looming ban by FINA following prolonged stay without elections.

Stakeholders fear that the federation is running out of chances and opportunities from FINA and have appealed to Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed to intervene.

Speaking at the Kasarani Aquatic Centre during the national swimming championships, Ohaga assured swimming fraternity that his tribunal is working on modalities to bring sanity in the sport.

Due to the wrangles, FINA President Hussain Al Musallam will not visit Kenya in his East Africa trip. Musallam is scheduled to tour Tanzania and Uganda to assess the development of the sport in the two countries.

Meanwhile, Makini Schools Sports Academy proved were in top form as they amassed 28 medals to win the men’s category on the final day of the national Long Course swimming championships, which brought together over 200 swimmers from nine counties.

The winners bagged 15 gold medals, seven silver and six bronze, while Seahorses Aquatic Centre were second with 11 medals.

Hydra Swim and Sports Club Academy bagged eight medals.