The third edition of the Kenya Aquatics National Masters Swimming Championship has been confirmed for this Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Bandari Maritime Academy, Mombasa County, while the following day on Sunday, April 12, 2026, the Kenya Aquatics National Open Water Swimming Championship will take place at the Indian Ocean.
Speaking on Tuesday to Radio Generation, Kenya Aquatics Secretary General Collins Marigiri, noted the exposure opportunities around national events, saying that Para swimmers will also compete over the weekend, with the Kenya Para Swimming Federation entering several athletes.
"Kenya Aquatics has reduced entry fees by half to encourage greater participation. Para swimmers will race alongside other competitors, with results recorded under their respective classifications," said Marigiri, adding that Kenya is preparing teams for the Africa Aquatics Junior, Senior, and Masters Championships scheduled next month in Oran, Algeria.
More than 200 masters swimmers have already been entered for Saturday’s races, bringing together experienced competitors and rising talent in what has now become a key fixture on the local swimming calendar.
Some of the Clubs to grace the event will include Bandari Swim Club, Blue Ocean, Fithub Aquatics, Mombasa Masters, Water Warriors Nairobi, Peponi School, Swim Fit Republiq Masters, Genesis Sports Limited, Crawford International School and Team Tanzania.
One of the standout stories will be 74-year-old Esther Kariuki of United Swimming Club, the oldest swimmer in the competition. She is entered in the 50m backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. Her presence highlights the enduring appeal of masters swimming and shows that the sport can be pursued at any age.
In the women’s 50m freestyle, Imara Bella Thorpe of Fithub Aquatics heads into the race as the swimmer to beat. Her entry time of 26.22 seconds is the fastest in the field. She is among athletes targeting qualification for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2028 Olympic Games.
The men’s 50m freestyle will see strong home support for Bandari Swim Club’s Swaleh Talib, who tops the entry list with a time of 23.21 seconds. He is also chasing future international selection, setting up a competitive contest in the sprint event.
On Sunday, attention shifts to open water racing, where swimmers will take on the ocean in a test of endurance and strategy. The event will also serve as a selection platform for upcoming international open water championships later in the year.
