AK, Ministry of Sports bow to pressure as they increase slots for African Games

Athletics Kenya has confirmed that the number of athletes set to be picked to represent the country in the upcoming 2023 African Games will increase following a standoff that was experienced on Tuesday, March 5.

According to a statement released by the governing body, more athletes will earn spots to represent the country in the continental games set for Accra, Ghana from March 8 to 23.

This was after athletes paralyzed trials at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi protesting over the formulae adopted for the African Games where it was initially announced that only one athlete would be picked in the various disciplines.

The decision to increase participants followed a consultative meeting with the Ministry of Sports.

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"We are pleased to note that following AK consultation with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, the number of slots available shall be increased subject to the athletes meeting the qualification criteria for the games," Athletics Kenya announced.

However, the governing body insisted that only athletes who meet the qualifications and stipulated criteria would make a cut to represent the country.

Led by Mary Moraa, the athletes lamented that Athletics Kenya was going to pick only one athlete from each category despite them investing heavily to take part in the trials.

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"If you know that there is no money for athletics it is better we know so that we decide to do other things instead of trimming the number of athletes representing the country. That is being unfair to us," one of the athletes stated.

Former world champion Julius Yego indicated that the athletes were sidelined in the consultations before arriving at the decision.

“We cannot accept that. We requested to be respected during the late Kelvin Kiptum’s burial ceremony. Why are Kenyan runners not given the respect they deserve? We do not even have a place to carry out our training sessions then you do this to us,” Yego lamented.  

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However, after consultation, the trials were allowed to take place.

World champion Mary Moraa won 400m in 51.47 seconds while David Sanayiek won the men’s 400m semis.

Other athletes are set to battle it out on Wednesday, March 6 to grab the ticket to represent the country at the continental showpiece.

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