This archive report was first published on 27 December 2019.
Published on December 27, 2019, Kenya's swimming federation is facing a deadline to hold elections or risk being banned from the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
According to the International Swimming Federation (Fina), Kenya has been temporarily suspended due to delays in conducting polls. Fina has given Kenya until February 29 to hold elections in accordance with its rules.
Kenya Swimming Federation chairman Patrick Muyah acknowledged the deadline, stating that elections must be held by early February to avoid repercussions. Muyah noted that Fina had given Kenya a right to reply over its earlier letter and allowed its written submission to be done via a video call.
Kenya's swimming federation has been embroiled in wrangles since 2017, when an interim management committee was put in place. The committee, headed by John Ohaga, was established following disputes within the swimming fraternity.
Despite being given ample time to review its constitution and come up with rules governing the election process, Kenya's swimming federation failed to meet the deadline. Fina had initially set a deadline of June 30, 2019, which was later extended to October 30.
Kenya's failure to hold elections has already had consequences, with top swimmers skipping the CANA Zone Three Swimming Championships at Kasarani Aquatic Centre earlier this month. The event organizing committee had asked swimmers to pay for their accommodation and participation fee, which some parents and guardians objected.
