
Authorities in Eldoret, Kenya, have taken down statues of three athletes that were criticized as “embarrassing” and poorly executed.
The statues were unveiled ahead of a ceremony granting Eldoret city status, but they quickly became the subject of ridicule online and among locals for their lack of resemblance to the athletes they were meant to depict.

Eldoret, located in the Rift Valley, is known as the “home of champions” due to its association with many of Kenya’s top athletes.
The statues, which were intended to celebrate the city’s sports and agricultural heritage, were placed at strategic roundabouts, along with other monuments like a maize cob and a milk fountain.
The statues, however, drew widespread criticism. A statue purportedly representing 1,500m world-record holder Faith Kipyegon was dismissed as a “disgrace,” while another of marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge was deemed a “joke.”
One local reporter confirmed that the statues, including those of two female athletes and one male, were removed overnight before President William Ruto officially designated Eldoret as a city.
There has been no indication from authorities about whether the statues will be replaced or when.
On the day of the city designation ceremony, President Ruto honored athletes who had won medals at the 2024 Olympics, awarding them money as part of a government scheme to encourage top performance.
Kenya ranked as the highest African country at the Paris Olympics, coming 17th on the medal table with four golds and a total of 11 medals.
Kipyegon won gold in the 1,500m and silver in the 5,000m, while Kipchoge, due to a back injury, did not finish the marathon.
