Kenyan actress Jacky Matubia has urged Kenyans to celebrate the country’s swimming team with the same enthusiasm reserved for athletics, saying the swimmers deserve far more recognition for the strides they continue to make on the international stage.
In a passionate video shared on social media, Matubia applauded Team Kenya’s swimmers for their performances at the Commonwealth Games, noting that although the team did not return home with medals, several athletes achieved remarkable milestones that signal a bright future for the sport.
The actress said public attention often focuses on marathoners and track stars, leaving swimmers and other athletes to compete without the recognition they have earned.
“Guys, we have talked about the Commonwealth Games and we are talking about the marathoners, we’re talking about all these people, but we are forgetting the swimming team. Come on, it’s time for us to actually give a clap for this team and give them the recognition that they deserve.”
Matubia acknowledged that Kenya’s dominance in long-distance running naturally attracts attention, but argued that the country’s sporting success should extend beyond athletics.
The actress highlighted several standout performances from Kenya’s swimmers, saying their achievements should be celebrated even without podium finishes.
She praised Stephen Degwa for his impressive swim in the men’s 50-metre butterfly, where he clocked 24.91 seconds, a performance she described as one of the team’s biggest highlights.
Matubia also applauded Imani, whom she credited for becoming the first Kenyan female swimmer to reach the semifinals in her event, calling the achievement a landmark moment for the country’s swimming program.
She further commended Kenya’s relay team for posting an impressive time of just over four minutes and nine seconds, saying the results demonstrate how far the national team has progressed in recent years.
Although the performances did not produce medals, Matubia insisted they represented significant milestones that deserve national celebration.
“We might not have won medals this time round, but we made our own records, which were mind-blowing.”
Beyond celebrating the athletes, Matubia revealed that her support for swimming is deeply personal. The actress shared that she hopes her daughter will one day represent Kenya at the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games, making the sport especially close to her heart.
She said watching Kenya’s swimmers compete inspires her to believe that more young athletes can succeed if they receive the right support and recognition.
Matubia expressed confidence that Kenya’s swimmers are building toward even greater success at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
She pledged to continue supporting the team and jokingly promised to celebrate with them whenever they return home from competitions.
“See you in 2028 in LA for the Olympics. I will be coming, and I will make sure the swimming team is recognized out here because, come on, guys, Team Kenya has come this far.”
Matubia also extended her praise beyond Kenya, congratulating neighbouring Uganda for its impressive showing at the Games.
