Murang’a, Kenya – The newly formed Murang’a Aquatics made a splash over the weekend with its inaugural swimming championship held at Vidhu Ramji Junior Secondary School in Murang’a Town. The event drew an impressive turnout of over 150 swimmers from eight teams, signaling a bright future for the sport in the region.

Among the participating teams were Kanjeru Girls High School, ACK St. James Murang’a, Vidhu Ramji High School, Mugumoini Public School Thika, Vidhu Ramji Junior School, Murang’a Sharks, Murang’a University, Mount Kenya University, and Seal Swimming Club Murang’a. In a thrilling competition, ACK St. James emerged victorious, clinching the overall team trophy.

The championship was graced by Joseph Ngaruiya, Principal of Vidhu Ramji, who pledged his support for the association’s future initiatives.

Speaking at the event, Murang’a Aquatics Governor, Joseph Ndungu, expressed optimism about the county’s swimming potential.

“We are happy with the turnout, considering this was our first gala since registering Murang’a Aquatics with the Sports Registrar. Murang’a has immense swimming talent, given that a sizeable part of the county is covered by rivers, including the Mathioya River. As an association, we are ready to nurture this talent and position Murang’a as a key contributor to Kenya’s swimming excellence.”

Ndungu emphasized the importance of schools embracing swimming, aligning with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which prioritizes life skills.

“Swimming is a lifelong skill that every child and adult should acquire. We are calling on Murang’a leadership to support swimming, not only for competitive sport but also to enhance water safety education and reduce drowning incidents.”

Looking ahead, Murang’a Aquatics has announced its next event, the Murang’a Aquatics Swimming Development Gala, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 1, 2025, at ACK Thika Memorial Church School. The event is expected to attract more teams from across the region. Additionally, Murang’a will have the honor of hosting this year Central Region Kenya Junior Secondary School Games, with the swimming segment set to take place at Vidhu Ramji.

The championship received official recognition from Kenya Aquatics, meaning the times recorded will be used for qualification to the Kenya National Age Group Swimming Championship on February 15-16, 2025, at Kasarani Aquatic Arena.

Murang’a Aquatics Hon. Secretary, Mary Mbuthia, expressed gratitude to stakeholders who supported the event.

“We appreciate Dr. Maureen Owiti, President of Kenya Aquatics, for her financial support in organizing the gala. We also thank Genesis Sports Limited for sponsoring backstroke flags, medals, trophies, and certificates.”

Despite these contributions, Murang’a Aquatics is actively seeking more sponsors and partners to support its mission of growing swimming in the county.

With a successful debut championship and a clear vision for the future, Murang’a Aquatics is set to make waves in the Kenyan swimming scene, creating opportunities for young athletes to excel at both national and international levels.