Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has addressed the controversy surrounding the peculiar statues erected in Eldoret just before the town was elevated to city status.
The statues, intended to celebrate Eldoret’s rich agricultural and sporting heritage, were met with widespread criticism and mockery, especially on social media.
So ugly were the statues, that Governor Bii described them as, “One of the statues, which was supposed to represent an Olympic champion, ended up looking like a human on one side and Satan on the other.”
Governor Bii explained that the statues were not commissioned by the county government but were made by individuals who wanted to beautify the city. These well-meaning people had promised to create impressive monuments to celebrate Eldoret’s elevation.
However, the final results were embarassing and far from impressive.
Governor Bii Explains Weird Eldoret Statues
Speaking during a church service in Eldoret on Sunday, August 18, Bii expressed his disappointment with the outcome.
“The well-wishers had assured us of surprise statues that would be unveiled on the eve of the city status elevation,” he explained.
“But when the coverings were removed, we were all shocked.”
The statues, meant to represent athletes and local symbols like maize and wheat, were intended to showcase the region’s identity. However, their poor quality led to widespread ridicule. Photos of the statues went viral, with many Kenyans surprised that such poorly made figures were displayed in a city known for its achievements.
The backlash was so strong that county officials removed the statues late at night, just hours before President William Ruto was set to oversee Eldoret’s official elevation to city status.
Governor Bii apologized for the fiasco but stressed that the county was not responsible for the statues’ creation.
“We had no budget allocated for these statues. The well-wishers took it upon themselves to contribute to the city’s beautification, but unfortunately, the results were not as expected,” he said.
Bii assured residents that measures would be taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future and that the city’s image would be properly maintained.
By Vivian K.