Authorities in the Kenyan city of Eldoret have removed the statues of three athletes after they were widely ridiculed and described as “embarrassing” and a poorly done “joke”.
The statues were unveiled ahead of Thursday’s ceremony giving Eldoret city status.
However, local residents and Kenyans online said they bore little resemblance to the athletes they allegedly represent.
Eldoret is known as the “home of champions”, as it is at the centre of the Rift Valley, where most of Kenya’s world-beating athletes come from.
The statues were removed overnight before President William Ruto officially designated Eldoret a city.
The town this week unveiled several artistic works, including three statues of athletes and other monuments such as a maize cob and a milk fountain.
They were supposed to represent the area’s sports and agricultural heritage and were erected at various strategic roundabouts in the town.
But the artworks immediately drew widespread criticism, becoming objects of ridicule rather than the pride they were supposed to elicit.
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”.
The authorities have not indicated who they represent but social media users have described one as a statue of Kipyegon and another of Kipchoge.
But their depiction of the athletes has been described as “shameless”, “embarrassing” and “substandard”.
Kenyans online have been welcoming the removal of the statues. It was not clear whether they would be replaced, or when.
Credit: bbc.com
