Umoja: 13-Year-Old Swimmer Who's Won 25 Medals Pleads For Chance To Meet Ababu Namwamba

• Desmond Kamau Wainaina, a teen award-winning swimmer from Nairobi's Umoja estate is seeking for a chance to meet Sports CS Ababu Namwamba
• The 13-year-old boasts an impressive 25 medals he's won from local and regional competitions in a period of three years since joining competitive swimming
• Desmonds says he wants to request the CS to give attention to the sport at the grassroots as well as support him to become the international swimming star he believes he is

Desmond Kamau Wainaina is a remarkable 13-year-old swimmer from Umoja who has mastered the art of swimming like a fish.

This can be attributed to the fact that the talented teen has already won an impressive 25 medals in various swimming competitions.

Having bagged more accolades than many children his age, the youngster has made a heartfelt plea to meet the Sports Cabinet Secretary, Ababu Namwamba.

Fell in love with swimming from young age

Desmond made the request through his mother Miriam Waithira Mbugua, a single mum who makes a living selling secondhand clothes.

She told TUKO.co.ke that the young man has gotten where he is because he loved swimming from a tender age and wanted to try it.

"I gave him a chance because I noticed he was so committed to training and maintained the discipline in time," the mother said proudly.

Waithira added that every morning, evening, on weekends and holidays, her son would go for training without fail.

Mother struggles to support talent

That is not to say that Desmond's journey hasn't been without challenges, as limited access to proper training facilities and financial constraints have remained hurdles in his career.

His desire to meet the CS is informed by the need to discuss the challenges faced by athletes from underprivileged backgrounds.

"I would like to get some support because when traveling, my mother has to pay for all the expenses plus training charges which has become hard for her," he explained.

Desmond reiterated that seeing his mother struggle to support his talent is demoralising him to a point he fears it is going to waste.

Desmond's winning record

Since his entry into competitive swimming at the age of 10, the young athlete has consistently dominated the sport, racking up an astonishing collection of 25 medals.

Desmond has won regional and national events between various swimming clubs as well as local and international schools.

These include the PIPPSA National swimming championship in 2022, the best boy swimmer KSF held at the M-pesa Foundation, and the swimming gala held at St Christopher's in Nanyuki.

"He also won gala held at Riara School on Ngong Road and was position five at the international swimming competition in Kampala this year," the mother said proudly.

I will be global star, Desmond

Having won nearly everything at his disposal for his age, Desmond is convinced that all he needs is a little support from the leaders so that he also reaps from his talent.

Desmond, who trains at Umoja sharks, believes that he will one day put the country on the global map and cement his name in the highest echelons of swimming.

"If the CS and Governor Johnson Sakaja hold my hand I will be able to bring more awards and also be a source of inspiration to other kids," he said.

Desmond's mother emphasised that the meeting, if granted, could play a vital role in shaping the policies that facilitate the growth of swimming at the grassroots level.

Namwamba on the spot

The request comes a few days after Nandi senator Samson Cherargei pushed for the summoning of Ababu Namwamba to explain claims of mismanagement of Kenyan sports.

Cherargei wondered why ministry officials could allegedly fly first class with their girlfriends to Budapest at the expense of athletes.

His sentiments came in the wake of National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah putting the CS on the spot over claims of neglecting athletes.

"Namwamba should tell Kenyans why he lacks the time to attend to the people who are representing our country and are good ambassadors of our country. Because this is his biggest responsibility," Ichung'wah said.