Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenya Aquatics is prioritising strong development structures and long-term planning over short-term results as it prepares for the 2026 season, technical director Omar Omari has announced.
The federation has unveiled a carefully balanced calendar designed to deliver lasting success through robust pathways, regional growth, and athlete development, rather than chasing quick wins. As a result, the season has been intentionally streamlined, featuring fewer but more impactful events aimed at building sustainable progress.
Speaking on Thursday, Omari said the biggest investment will be in the pathway programme, particularly at the under-7, under-9 and under-14 levels.
“Instead of depending on the same familiar or limited talent, Kenya Aquatics is casting the net wider to identify and nurture young swimmers early, giving them the foundation to grow with time and proper support,” he said.
He added that the calendar is firmly aligned with the federation’s five-year strategic plan, with every activity designed to deliver measurable results years down the line.
“Every scheduled activity is planned to produce outcomes five years from now, especially in junior development and in building depth within the national teams,” Omari noted.
A central ambition of the strategy, he explained, is to ensure Kenyan swimmers qualify consistently for continental and global competitions and eventually reach the podium.
“We want our athletes regularly qualifying for major championships and winning medals. We also want to ensure the government gets value for its investment, because public funds are used to support these events,” he said.
To achieve this, Kenya Aquatics is strengthening its development structures so that young athletes gain the right technical skills, receive holistic support, and get sufficient competitive exposure to grow into elite performers capable of shaping the future of aquatic sports.
Another priority is improving Kenya’s position on the World Aquatics scorecard, a key metric influencing funding and international opportunities.
“Activities this year are deliberately structured to maximise talent development, particularly through junior competitions, open-water swimming, water polo, masters swimming, and formalised development programmes,” Omari said.
He added that the federation is expanding its operational footprint from 17 counties to 30, with the long-term goal of reaching all 47 counties nationwide.
Athlete development will follow a clear progression from county-level competitions to regional platforms and national age-group teams, ensuring a seamless pathway from grassroots to elite levels.
