Authorities in Eldoret, Kenya, have taken down statues of three athletes after they were met with widespread ridicule and described as “embarrassing” and poorly executed.
The statues, which were unveiled ahead of a ceremony marking Eldoret’s new city status, were criticized by locals and online commentators for their lack of resemblance to the athletes they were meant to represent.
Eldoret, known as the “home of champions” due to its location in Kenya’s Rift Valley, where many of the country’s top athletes hail from, had hoped the statues would honor its sports heritage.
However, the statues were removed overnight before President William Ruto officially granted Eldoret city status.
The town had also introduced other artistic works, including monuments like a maize cob and a milk fountain, intended to reflect the area’s agricultural and sports legacy.
Instead of being a source of pride, these installations quickly became targets of public mockery.
A Kenyan who shared a photo of a statue of a female athlete suspected to represent 1,500m world-record holder Faith Kipyegon, said the works represented “our collective mediocrity as a country”.
“It’s a disgrace calling it a Faith Kipyegon statue,” another Kenyan on X said.
Yet another X user shared a purported statue of marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge terming it a “joke”, saying “whoever did this will not see heaven”.
On Thursday morning, local media circulated images showing an empty pedestal where one of the controversial statues had previously stood. According to a local reporter, county officials discreetly removed the three statues—two representing female athletes and one male—on Wednesday night and transported them to an undisclosed location.
Authorities have not officially identified who the statues were meant to represent, but social media users speculated that one depicted Faith Kipyegon and another Eliud Kipchoge.
The statues were widely criticized online as “shameless,” “embarrassing,” and “substandard” representations of the athletes.
The removal of the statues has been welcomed by Kenyans on social media, although it remains unclear whether they will be replaced or when that might happen.
Ahead of the ceremony declaring Eldoret as Kenya’s fifth city, President William Ruto hosted athletes who had won medals at the 2024 Olympics. These athletes were each rewarded with money as part of a government initiative to motivate top performers.
Kenya was the highest-ranking African country at the Paris Olympics, finishing 17th overall with four gold medals and a total of 11 medals. Kipyegon secured the 1,500m title, setting a new Olympic record of 3 minutes and 51.29 seconds, making her the first woman to win three consecutive golds in the event. She also claimed a silver medal in the 5,000m.
Meanwhile, Kipchoge was unable to complete the marathon due to a back injury.
