This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
Kenyan athletics team has been forced to trim its contingent ahead of the African Games, despite assurances from the Sports Principal Secretary Kirimi Kaberia that there would be no reduction.
Team manager Dimmy Kisalu delivered the news to the athletes at the Luke Hotel, where they had been residing for over a week.
Among those dropped is Robert Kiprop, who won the men's 5,000m event during the trials with a time of 13:37.31, which was outside the qualifying mark of 13:30.00.
The team is now left with World Under-20 and Africa 5,000m champion Edward Zakayo and 2017 World Cross Country Under-20 bronze medallist Richard Kimunyan.
Former Africa 400m hurdles bronze medallist Maureen Jelagat and sprinters national 100m champion Joan Cherono, Freshia Mwangi, and Gladys Musyoki have been left out, alongside 110m hurdler Caroline Waiganjo.
On August 14, 2019, Athletics Kenya was represented by a contingent of 75, comprising 69 athletes and six officials, at the African Games.
"The Games management have insisted that our quota is 75 with no additional even after we were told to add more athletes upon request," said Kisalu. "It's unfortunate that we have to send some athletes home and it's demoralising."
