Over forty children in Kajiado County participated in a series of individual and team swimming events at the under-18 Kajiado County Sprints and Relays Swimming Championships held in the Nkoroi area of Kajiado North sub-county.
The swimming championships organised by the Kajiado County Aquatics Association aims at promoting, identification and development of swimming talent among children in the county.
According to the interim president of the Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) Zack Musembi, swimming has quickly gained popularity within Kajiado County. Musembi urged parents to support and nurture their children’s talent in swimming citing its physical and mental benefits.
“Swimming championships in Kajiado County began less than two years ago and already there have been three swimming galas. It is a proven fact that those children who are active in sports, especially swimming, are more psychologically alert and perform better academically,” said Musembi.
Musembi further called on the national government to invest resources into the sport of swimming through infrastructural development of swimming pools across the country.
Speaking at the swimming championships, Kajiado County Aquatics Association secretary, Ashley Wangari, said swimming is an intensive sport that requires commitment from both the child and parent to nurture talent from the local to international levels.
“This is our first gala in the year 2022 and we are hoping to host the Kenya Swimming Federation gala next year. This will open up Kajiado County by attracting local and foreign tourists. Swimming involves a lot of practice and we also have coaches for children living with disabilities,” Wangari noted.
The Kasarani Aquatic Stadium and the Kenyatta University swimming pools are the only swimming pools in Kenya that meet the international standards for the 50 metre-long swimming competition.
By Amy Moyi
