Eldoret City Management Claims Funny Statues Were Donated, Not Paid: "It Didn't Capture Imagination"

• Eldoret City management clarified the controversy surrounding viral statues after a poorly crafted female athlete sculpture sparked an uproar on social media
• The municipality's city manager, Tito Koiyet, expressed disappointment with the statues, explaining that they were donations from artists
• Koiyet revealed that the statues were not paid for and admitted that a lack of supervision contributed to the subpar quality of the artwork
• Following the public backlash, some of the statues were removed from the city's streets, with officials acknowledging the failure to meet expectations

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Uasin Gishu - Eldoret City Municipality has clarified the situation regarding statues that have caused a stir on social media.

On Wednesday, August 14, a viral photo of a statue of a female athlete along one of Eldoret’s main streets sparked uproar among Kenyans.

The statue depicted a woman running while holding a Kenyan flag, but the proportions and quality of work were wanting.

Following the uproar, Kenyans woke up to some of the sculptures missing from the city's streets.

Who designed viral Eldoret statues

During an interview, Eldoret City manager Tito Koiyet said they were also disappointed by the end product.

Koiyet explained that they did not pay for the statues, but rather, they were donations from the artists who might have sought to use the opportunity to build their brand.

"Eventually, when they were unveiled, we were all extremely disappointed, and they were doing it for free, by the way, in exchange for a bit of branding for their businesses. But it didn't quite capture the imagination we had," he said.

He explained that those involved might have become so involved with elevating the municipality that they forgot to ensure proper workmanship.

"We all got so busy that there doesn't seem to be much supervision on the preparation of those monuments. You know in the workshops of those people who had offered to do the job for us," he said.

What you need to know about Kipchoge's statue in Oregon, USA

Meanwhile, netizens took to social media to compare marathoner Eliud Kipchoge's sleek statue in Oregon, USA, with the athlete statues installed by the Uasin Gishu county government in Eldoret.

The Kenya Times reported that Nike, a US-based company, unveiled the details of Kipchoge's statue at its headquarters in Oregon.

In a statement on its website, Nike said the sculpture is made of bronze and, based on the photos shared, features a black and gold colour scheme that captures Kipchoge's running posture.

The sculpture features Nike-branded apparel, running shoes, and a watch. Local Oregon artist Alison Kaswel reportedly created the artwork.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Eldoret City manager Tito Koiyet

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