Kenyan athletes refuse to take part in African Games trials until grievances addressed

By Luttah Njomo

The Kenyan national trials for the upcoming 2023 African Games that were to take place from 5-6 March at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi have been disrupted after athletes staged protests over the formula adopted in the competition.

The athletes refused to get down to business for the better part of the morning as they indicated that the trials would not be held until the government and Athletics Kenya addressed their grievances.

Some of the athletes lamented that Athletics Kenya had significantly reduced the number of athletes who were going to be picked after the trials with reports stating that only one athlete would be picked in the various categories.

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The athletes alleged that Athletics Kenya had settled on 40 athletes to represent the country at the continental showpiece to be held in Accra, Ghana from March 8 to 23.

"The leaders are here, we want you to tell us where the problem is. We are not saying that you are wrong, but we want to understand the root cause of the problem," one of the Athletics Kenya officials appealed with the athletes.

"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 irate athletes told the officials.

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"Honestly speaking, if you just look at the athletes that have assembled here today, picking 16 men from all these others here is just impossible," another athlete noted.

The athletes were expected to start the trials early on Tuesday, March 5, and implored the officials to increase the number set to represent the country in the games.

Hesborn Ochieng, Mark Otieno, Justine Isaboke, Isaac Omurwa and Tyson Juma are among other track sensations lined up to square it out in the men's 100M.

Otieno was seeking redemption after his doping ban ended last year and was keen to make Team Kenya for the first time since then. The multiple national champion is also chasing the Olympic qualification time and the African Games are a great stage for him.

In the women's 100M category, Monica Safania and in-form Esther Mbagari were set to highlight the race. 

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