Former and legendary athletes from Kenya’s North Rift region have criticised Athletics Kenya (AK) following the exclusion of the Eldoret City Marathon from this year’s athletics calendar, warning that the decision could undermine the careers of upcoming athletes.
The athletes, led by former 3,000m steeplechase star Wilson Boit Kipketer, accused the athletics governing body of unfair treatment, questioning the reasons behind the decision to leave out one of the region’s major road racing events.
Speaking to the press in Eldoret, the former athletes argued that the Eldoret City Marathon has played a significant role in supporting local talent over the past seven years, particularly through its lucrative prize money and opportunities for emerging runners.
Boit Kipketer said the competition had benefited more than 280 athletes since its inception, providing them with a platform to showcase their abilities while earning substantial financial rewards.
He warned that excluding the marathon from the national calendar would disadvantage hundreds of athletes who have come to rely on the event as an important opportunity to advance their careers.
The former athlete called on Athletics Kenya to publicly explain the criteria used in making the decision, insisting that athletes should not be caught up in personal disagreements or internal political battles within the federation.
The group further questioned the legitimacy of the current Athletics Kenya leadership, alleging that some officials had unlawfully extended their terms through court orders. They also raised concerns over alleged conflicts of interest within the organisation.
Former world champion Christopher Kosgei echoed the concerns, saying the exclusion of the Eldoret City Marathon threatened the dreams of young and upcoming athletes from the North Rift region.
Kosgei questioned the rationale behind dropping the competition, arguing that established athletics events should be protected because of their contribution to nurturing talent and sustaining Kenya’s reputation as a global athletics powerhouse.
He urged the government to intervene and address what he described as growing challenges within Athletics Kenya, calling for accountability and proper management of the sport.
Meanwhile, Eldoret City Marathon Race Director Moses Tanui accused Athletics Kenya of bias, adding to growing criticism over the decision.
The athletes are now demanding clarity from the federation, with concerns mounting over the potential impact of the exclusion on local runners and the future of the annual competition.
