Eight more members have been added to the Kenya swimming federation –Interim management committee that is seeking to formulate a new constitution aimed at bringing order in the troubled body.
During a Kenya swimming parents and coaches stakeholders meeting that was steered by the Chairman of the Sports Disputes Tribunal John Ohaga, a proposal by parents of swimmers from Nairobi to kick out their representatives in the Interim Management Committee was quashed.
The committee has until October 2019 to deliver a new constitution and conduct fresh polls for the federation as directed by the world swimming governing body FINA.
The parents’ group spokesperson Stephen Ndonga, Nassir Ahmed, Sharley Maina, Pauline Raburu, Patricia Wena, Larissa Hart, Benson Mukuria and Njeri Njoroge were selected to join the IMC at various committees to help fast track the process.
The parents accused the three representatives Conrad Thoppe, Jen Maina and Tony of laxity noting that two years down the line no progress has been achieved. They claimed the Association has been dormant.
“The representatives we selected have slept on their job. They are never available and are not keen at supplying the stakeholders with information. We know they want to buy time and seek an extension of their time to deliver the mandate but FINA has refused and we wanted them out so that we can steer the process to its conclusion,” Ndonga said.
‘We need fresh elections. We are fed up of seeing the same fellows who don’t want to be subjected to elections like others. They select themselves for trips, exaggerate costs and favour their children. There is urgent need to put our house in order.”
According to Ohaga, hounding the three out of office would destabilise the IMC and jeopordise its operations as the team prepares to meet the FINA deadline. He felt it was wise to accommodate members who felt they could assist in delivering the new constitutional order for the swimming fraternity.
“I can attest that even with some members traveling wide, members have discussed matters on numerous video conferences and striking out the members would only derail the process,” said Ohaga.
The members discussed various complaints noting that radical changes needed to be put in place.
Parents complaint that despite footing the expense of athletes who are selected for national duty, they are not involved in the decision making of the children’s travel plans and they felt left out.
Among the resolutions reached out it was recommended that chairs of the IMC/KSF committees be changed to allow more vibrant people lead the agenda.
A new timeline for constitution amendments and elections was also proposed to have the final draft by 31st July while the same will be submitted to both FINA and CANA by 10 th August.
A Special General Meeting is expected to adopt constitution before a notice for election is issued by 5th October and National elections held by 26 October as directed by FINA.
