Published on 06.03.2024
Kenyan athletes refused to participate in the national trials ahead of the All Africa Games in Ghana.
The national trials were scheduled for March 5 to select a team that would represent the country at the 13th edition of the multi-sport event.
The athletes turned up at the Nyayo National Stadium only to be informed by the National Sports Council of Kenya that only one qualification spot would be available per category for the various disciplines.
Commonwealth Games 800m champion Mary Moraa has demanded answers from the Sports CS Ababu Namwamba and the Kenya National Sports Council due to the recent developments ahead of the African Games in Accra, Ghana.
An angry Moraa led athletes to a boycott during the national trials at the Nyayo National Stadium after Athletics Kenya announced that they would only pick one athlete from each discipline to represent the country at the continental showpiece.
The move was arrived at after the Kenya National Sports Council argued that there was a lack of funds to facilitate many athletes. Speaking to the media during the boycott, Moraa noted that many upcoming athletes want to get a chance to compete on the global stage, and denying them such chances is unjust.
The reigning world 800m champion had expressed her intentions to compete in the 400m and 4x400m relay but as things stand, there is no certainty.
Meanwhile, during the previous edition of the event in 2019, Kenya managed to send 61 athletes who represented the country well and jetted back with 20 medals (10 gold, 7 silver, and 3 bronze).
