Kenya Aquatics considers changes to national junior championships

Kenya Aquatics is considering removing the 5–7-year-old age category from the National Junior Championships, scheduled to take place in Nanyuki this August.

Technical Director Omar Omari said the move is intended to protect and nurture the young swimmers' development and not to sideline them.

“Children in this age group should focus on refining their strokes, mastering technique, and enjoying the sport without the pressure of national competition,” he explained.

Omari added that the change aligns with the federation’s long-term athlete development plan, which emphasises gradual growth and skill-building over early specialisation.

He said this year’s championship promises to be different and more challenging. “Qualifying times will be raised, a move expected to lift the standard of competition and push young swimmers to higher performance levels,” he said.

“We want this championship to reflect growth, raising the bar and challenging our athletes to train harder and compete stronger,” Omari continued.

The Technical Director also highlighted the importance of early planning for the event.

“We want our stakeholders—clubs, coaches, parents and sponsors—to have enough time to prepare,” he said. Early preparation will allow clubs to ready their swimmers properly and give the marketing committee time to secure sponsorship.

The federation is also looking beyond Kenya’s borders, hoping to attract participation from neighbouring countries and elevate the championship into a stronger regional event.

Orca Swim Club coach Kennedy Sila welcomed the early preparations, calling them a positive step for the sport. He encouraged the federation to make early preparation the norm, ideally releasing plans four months before major competitions to allow for structured training cycles and better planning.

However, Sila challenged the federation to invest more in coaching clinics and technical workshops to strengthen the capacity of local swimmers.

“If we want more and better swimmers, we must also build better coaches,” he observed.

Meanwhile, over 300 swimmers are expected to compete in the National Masters Swimming Championship, scheduled for the Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa.

The event will also serve as a selection trial for the inaugural Africa Aquatics Masters Swimming Championship, to be held in Ghana in May, followed by the Zone 3 Championship in Kampala, Uganda, in October.