More than 200 swimmers from eight teams are expected to compete at the Kajiado County Aquatics Championship this weekend at Asyana Gardens.
The short-course meet will serve as a selection trial for the upcoming National Championship, which doubles as the qualifiers for the World Aquatics competition set for Beijing, China.
The top 20 athletes from Kajiado will earn slots to represent the county at the national event scheduled for December 4–7 at Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa.
Sea Horses Aquatics Club leads the turnout with 100 participants, the largest entry in the competition.
The event is open to non-county residents, who are also eligible for team selection.
Jeff Ekumbo, chairman of Kajiado County Aquatics and a World Aquatics referee, said the tournament aims to identify the region’s strongest swimmers capable of excelling nationally and internationally.
“There are not many qualifying events in the region, which is why this tournament is so important to us,” said Ekumbo.
“We want to choose the best swimmers to represent the county in Mombasa. Our athletes must prove that Kajiado is a powerhouse in swimming and hopefully secure qualification for Beijing.”
“Our focus goes beyond the national stage—we want to shine in the world aquatics arena.”
Ekumbo also noted a steady rise in participation, saying it reflects the county’s growing embrace of aquatic sports.
“When people hear ‘Kajiado,’ they think of cattle herding. Introducing swimming here was a challenge at first. But now many schools have pools, and this turnout shows that the sport is taking root,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ekumbo outlined plans to establish more county tournaments to enhance talent identification and athlete development.
“We aim to host several competitions in the future. This will give swimmers exposure and help us spot potential. Team selection will be based on performance and commitment throughout the year; in case of a tie, discipline will be the deciding factor,” he added.
by JOSEPH MUSYOKI
