Big Kenya contingent seeks to dominate in Africa Games

With over 300 athletes and a budget of 4 million U.S. dollars, Kenya will be one of the countries with the biggest contingent at the Africa Games, which starts in Brazzaville, Congo on Sept.4.

Volleyball was the first discipline to jet out on Friday night to Brazzaville, and the rest of the Kenyan contingent will follow suit on Monday as focus shifts from the World Championships in Beijing to the continental games.

The games, managed by the Africa Union, are meant to enhance peace and cohesion among the states by use of sports.

Four years ago, Kenya entered a team of about 300 athletes and officials in Maputo and finished sixth, securing 50 medals -- 14 gold, 14 silver and 22 bronze.

Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch, who is the team chief de mission, said Kenya is ready to reclaim its spot on the continental scene and surpass the medal haul in Maputo.

"We have a strong team in the games. Kenya has always competed in these games since the inaugural edition in 1965. We remember with nostalgia the performance in Congo, and a repeat dominant exhibition will be on the cards as we arrive there," Oluoch said Saturday in Nairobi.

Kenya will enter 17 teams with 300 athletes. Only giants Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria and Algeria have bigger contingents.

Kenya will send in athletics, badminton, cycling, handball, judo, karate, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, tae kwon do, volleyball, beach volleyball, weight-lifting, Paralympics, wrestling boxing and rugby Sevens.

The country, however, will not be represented in football, basketball (men and women) and volleyball (men), which failed to go past the regional qualification as well as fencing, gymnastics and bowling. Endi