The Laikipia Aquatics swimming championship held over the weekend at St. Christopher’s school Nanyuki marked a great milestone in the county’s sporting calendar, featuring thrilling swimming events that brought together top talent from across Laikipia and neighboring counties. This inaugural gala saw fierce competition across various age categories, with notable performances from participating teams and swimmers.

Omar Omari, Chairperson of Laikipia Aquatics expressed satisfaction with the event’s success noting the growing enthusiasm for swimming in the region. He stated, “We are impressed to host the first county gala as Laikipia Aquatics since our registration by the Sports Registrar. The swimming is also really growing in the county, and we are impressed to see many upcoming clubs which are taking professional swimming training seriously.” The event attracted teams from counties such as Meru, Nakuru, Nyeri, Uasin Gishu, and Embu, further highlighting the expanding reach of the sport.

St. Christopher School emerged as the dominant team, claiming a total of 93 medals (25 gold, 33 silver, and 35 bronze). They were followed by Rupaz Elite Swim Team Eldoret, which secured 65 medals, and Mustard Seed International School, amassing 43 medals. Ripples International School also had a commendable performance, collecting 22 medals. The individual scores reveal that in the 7 & Under Girls category, Jedidiah Grace from Ripples International School took the top spot with 156 points.

In the 8-9 Girls category, Rupaz Elite Swim Team’s trio – Muthoni Munyoroku, Arianne Wairimu, and Neema Keisha – dominated with scores of 174, 170, and 145, respectively. For the boys, Myles Mariga of St. Christopher School emerged victorious in the 8-9 category, scoring an impressive 154 points. Among the 10-11 Boys, Jedidiah Kahindo of Mombasa Aquatics Club secured the first position with 177 points.

The success of the gala paves the way for future competitions in the region. Lenny Muriuki, Governor of Aquatics Meru Kenya, highlighted the growing interest in swimming, especially in the Mt. Kenya region. “We are happy with Laikipia Aquatics for organizing such a wonderful event. Swimming is tremendously growing in the region, and we take this opportunity to invite teams to Nkubu for the Meru Aquatics Invitational Swimming Championship on January 25th, 2025,” said Muriuki.

As the Laikipia Aquatics Association prepares for the upcoming National Championship in Mombasa and the East African Chipkizi Swimming Championship in Arusha, there is great anticipation for continued growth and development in regional swimming talent. The success of the Laikipia County Gala is a promising indicator of the sport’s bright future in Kenya.