Swimming in Kenya a veritable vortex of fighting, with the sport the real loser

I received quite a bit of feedback on my article last week regarding the fiasco in swimming in Nairobi, and to all intents and purposes, it appears that both parties, the Nairobi Swimming Association (Nasa) and the Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) Nairobi Branch, are digging their heels in, with no end in sight to this increasingly nasty dispute.

I had a lengthy chat with a local coach this week, and she mentioned two very important points: One, there are very decent qualified local coaches in the country, although certain parents are hiring foreign ones who may not be as qualified as their Kenyan counterparts.

Two, some parents might be fuelling the division in the sport by using their financial muscle to ensure that their children get into international meets to the detriment of faster swimmers.

Shirley Maina was an official of Nasa for 30 years, but left the body in disgust earlier this year due to the incessant wrangles dogging the association.

She told me that the KSF chairman and treasurer are not swimming coaches; neither are the KSF Nairobi Branch chairman and treasurer.

The same goes for the Nasa chairman and treasurer.

It is also a fact that local swimming coaching jobs are under threat from an influx of “expatriate” coaches, who are not necessarily doing a better job than their local counterparts but earn so much more.

Maina said that there is just too much going on that is detrimental to the overall development of the sport, yet this is the first time in so many years that she has seen high interest in the sport, especially from local parents and their children.

Maina added that the stakeholders need to stop making the sport be about trips and scholarships, especially the parents and officials. She said that was not the number one reason that children swam.

According to a research done by the United States Swimming, children swim first and foremost for fun.

KSF Nairobi Branch chairman Patrick Muyah claims that the Reginald Okumu-led group unfairly won at the Nasa elections on the July 4, and duped the IEBC as well to give the selection process a sense of legitimacy in order to entrench their incumbency.

A stakeholder told me that the environment of swimming now is worse than before as parents pursue personal vendettas against the KSF because their children are not selected or given scholarships and Nasa is their vehicle.

So, while the sport has gained so much popularity in Nairobi, it is suffering due to individuals who are using it for their own selfish interests.

SWIMMING PETITION

In the meantime another set of stakeholders affiliated to Nasa is gathering signatures for a petition to be handed over to the Cabinet Secretary for Sport Hassan Wario, who has his hands full trying to sort out the mess surrounding other sports associations in the country. I received a copy of the petition and can share part of it here:

“We, swimming stakeholders in Kenya comprising swimmers, coaches, parents and well-wishers, under-girded by the National Values espoused in the Constitution of Kenya 2010, and in the spirit of the Sports Act 2013, make this petition concerned with the crisis in the management of swimming in Kenya.

“For far too long stakeholders have been cajoled, bullied and intimidated into silence or been too passive to confront the perennial issues of incompetence, corruption, and lack of accountability in the KSF and the sport of swimming.

“We have a multitude of concerns but highlight the following: Lack of accountability: KSF has failed to present audited accounts of its activities for at least the last seven years. Its alleged offices are constantly closed and it is unknown if its organs ever meet or deliberate any issues. The Governing Council has not been called to meet for at least the last 18 months. The Federation is managed as a personal business with no accountability. KSF is essentially a ‘ghost’ Federation.

“Bias, favouritism and nepotism are evidenced in selection of national teams and distribution of coaching and swimming scholarships. The selection of national teams is shrouded in mists of secrecy and scandal, and coaches who complain are excluded from funded activities.

“Treatment of swimmers: Despite the fact that most swimming teams are self-funded, our teams have slept on floors, been denied food, a number of times not received paid-for-kit amongst many other humiliations caused by poor administration and use of resources. This is made all the worse as most of our teams consist mainly of minors. “We believe that Kenya has abundant swimming talent, and that it is our obligation to create an environment for our swimmers to excel and realize their full potential both within and beyond the boundaries of Kenya.

“This will be made possible by: The inclusion of all the stakeholders in the management of the affairs of swimming. Swimmers and their parents have been excluded from participating in the running and management of the sport and punished when they raise concerns.

“Financial accountability: parents especially invest sacrificially in training, events and trips, and are entitled to open and clear accounting of how funds are utilised.

“Clear, transparent and fair rules to govern the sport: Touch points being the notorious (but selectively applied) First Claim Rule that attempts to exclude parental consent; team selection process for Kenya teams and treatment for our kids at national and international swimming meets/championships.

“We append our names as a sign that we support this petition calling for you to:

“Under the powers granted by the Sports Act 2013, order an inquiry into the affairs of KSF and an audit of its accounts and activities. Convene a stakeholders’ forum to discuss and form a Caretaker Committee with the mandate to:

“Review and prepare a new constitution for KSF that fully abides by The Constitution of Kenya, the Sports Act 2013 and FINA’s constitution and rules on fair play and equity.

“Set up a functional and accountable secretariat, overseeing the annual swimming calendar, selection and preparation of teams to various regional and international meets and promote swimming in Kenya.

“Instruct the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to investigate and determine if any offences have been committed in regard to: The disappearance of team kit, allowances and refunds due to swimmers.

“The mistreatment of swimmers at international meets under the Children’s Act or any other relevant law.”

We will keep you updated with the latest developments in this sadly divided sport.