By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
Authorities in Eldoret, Kenya, have removed three statues of athletes after they faced widespread ridicule and were deemed "embarrassing" and poorly executed. These statues, unveiled in preparation for Eldoret's elevation to city status on Thursday, were intended to honor the region's rich athletic heritage. However, local residents and Kenyans online criticized the statues for their lack of resemblance to the athletes they were meant to represent.
Eldoret, often referred to as the "home of champions," is located in the Rift Valley, a region known for producing many of Kenya's world class athletes. The statues were part of a series of artistic installations, including monuments representing the area’s sports and agricultural legacy, such as a maize cob and a milk fountain, strategically placed around the town.
Despite their intended purpose, the statues quickly became subjects of mockery rather than symbols of pride. One statue, believed to represent 1,500m world record holder Faith Kipyegon, was particularly criticized, with a Kenyan social media user commenting that it reflected "our collective mediocrity as a country." Another user on X labeled a statue, purported to be of marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, as a "joke," questioning the artist's competence.
By Thursday morning, local media shared images of empty pedestals where the statues once stood. A local journalist confirmed that county officials had removed the three statues two representing female athletes and one male overnight on Wednesday and transported them to an undisclosed location. While authorities did not officially identify the athletes the statues were meant to depict, social media users speculated they were of Kipyegon and Kipchoge. The statues were widely criticized for being "shameless," "embarrassing," and "substandard."
The removal of the statues has been largely welcomed by Kenyans online. It remains unclear whether they will be replaced or when.
Ahead of the ceremony to declare Eldoret as Kenya's fifth city, President William Ruto hosted athletes who had won medals at the 2024 Olympics, rewarding them with monetary incentives as part of a government initiative to motivate top performance. Kenya finished as the highest ranked African nation at the Paris Olympics, placing 17th on the medal table with four gold medals and a total of 11 medals. Kipyegon won the 1,500m title in a new Olympic record time of 3 minutes 51.29 seconds, becoming the first woman to win three consecutive golds in the event. She also secured a silver medal in the 5,000m. However, Kipchoge did not finish the marathon, as a back injury forced him to withdraw.
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