- Celebrated Kenyan skater Kevin Kiarie was named among the National Heroes Awards 2026 but chose not to attend the ceremony
- Kiarie has levelled serious accusations against the Ministry of Sports over funds he claims never reached him
- The skater called out PS Sports Elijah Mwangi by name in a pointed social media post the day after the celebrations
Kenya's 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations on Tuesday, October 20, brought together thousands at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, with President William Ruto leading the event co-hosted by Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Nandi counties.
Source: Facebook
The theme centred on security, sports, and the country's finance sector. Yet for skater Kevin Kiarie, the day was marked not by celebration but by deliberate absence.
Why did Kevin Kiarie skip Mashujaa Day?
The following day, celebrated Kenyan skater Kevin Kiarie took to social media to explain why he had skipped the ceremony and declined to submit his personal details when authorities requested them ahead of the awards.
"Apparently, yesterday, I was included in the National Heroes Awards 2026. I did not attend the event, and I did not submit my details after they requested them," he wrote.
His reason was blunt. Kiarie accused the Ministry of Sports of making misleading claims about supporting his participation at the African Skate Games, adding that funds allegedly channelled through the federation had never reached him.
He closed the post with a direct call-out:
"PS sports @ElijahGMwangi you can do better."
The post drew swift reactions online. User m.tita_n wrote:
"Hero, and they didn't support you on the ground."
Sports journalist carolradull added:
"Surely. They give you an award but let your career suffer 🥺 Anyway, congrats! It's a well-deserved award."
Some followers, while sympathetic, felt Kiarie should have still collected the recognition.
janveizer argued:
"You could have just submitted your details and received the OGW - you deserved the award regardless."
justuskipkemoi echoed the sentiment:
"You are a Hero 🙌. You should have just given the details."
The episode has stirred conversation about whether government recognition rings hollow when it is not backed by tangible support for athletes navigating competitive careers.
What did Itumbi say about skater Kevin Kiarie?
In other news, Kiarie challenged Dennis Itumbi’s claims about government funding for his international competitions, saying he had not received any reimbursements.
Kiarie disputed the reported payments and clarified that his Paraguay funding application was submitted in July.
He was fundraising to raise KSh340,000 for the World Skate Games.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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