In the Kenyan city of Eldoret, statues of three athletes were swiftly removed after they were met with widespread ridicule and branded as “embarrassing” and poorly executed. The statues, unveiled ahead of a ceremony to designate Eldoret as a city, were criticized for their lack of resemblance to the renowned athletes they were meant to honor.
Eldoret, often referred to as the “home of champions,” is situated in the Rift Valley, an area that has produced many of Kenya’s world-class athletes. The statues were intended to celebrate this legacy, but locals and online commentators were quick to express their disappointment.
The artworks were part of a series of new installations meant to symbolize Eldoret’s rich sports and agricultural heritage. Alongside the statues, monuments such as a maize cob and a milk fountain were erected at prominent locations throughout the town. However, instead of eliciting pride, the statues sparked widespread mockery.
One statue, believed to represent 1,500m world-record holder Faith Kipyegon, was criticized online as a symbol of “our collective mediocrity as a country.” Another statue, purported to depict marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, was described as a “joke” by a social media user, who quipped, “whoever did this will not see heaven.”
By Thursday morning, local media reported that the statues had been removed from their pedestals under the cover of night, just before President William Ruto was scheduled to officially declare Eldoret Kenya’s fifth city. A local journalist confirmed that the county government had quietly relocated the statues to an undisclosed location, with no word on whether they would be replaced.
While the statues’ intended identities have not been officially confirmed, social media users have speculated that they represented Kipyegon and Kipchoge. Regardless, their poor craftsmanship led to their removal, and the future of any replacements remains uncertain.
In contrast to the controversy over the statues, President Ruto’s visit to Eldoret included a celebration of Kenya’s recent athletic achievements. Ahead of the city’s formal designation, he hosted athletes who won medals at the 2024 Olympics, rewarding them with monetary prizes as part of a government initiative to motivate continued success. Kenya finished as the top-ranked African nation at the Paris Olympics, earning 11 medals, including four golds. Kipyegon triumphed in the 1,500m, setting a new Olympic record, while Kipchoge was forced to drop out of the marathon due to injury.
