Glory on Paper, Stranded in Reality: African Skating Champion Kelvin Kiarie Misses China Trip After Government Fails to Deliver Promised Award

Kelvin Kiarie stood at the departure gate with no ticket in his hand. The man who had conquered Africa just weeks earlier—hoisting the Kenyan flag on two podiums in Cairo—would not be boarding the flight to Chengdu.

<cite index="43-2,43-4">The 26-year-old skating champion revealed on Thursday, May 22, that he was unable to travel to China for the prestigious Sichuan Inline Freestyle Skating Competition Exchange Programme, which commenced on May 21 and runs through June 30.</cite> The reason: a severe lack of financial support, despite recent government promises.

The Promise That Never Came

<cite index="43-7,43-8">"Today I have not been able to travel to China for my Sichuan event because of lack of funds. I've not yet received the award as promised because if I did, I would have just been able to sponsor myself," Kiarie said.</cite>

The disappointment stings especially hard given the very public recognition Kiarie received earlier this month. <cite index="43-10,43-11">After securing double gold at the African Skating Championship in Cairo, Egypt, his triumph earned him direct commendation from President William Ruto, who posted a glowing tribute celebrating the feat.</cite> <cite index="43-12,43-13,43-14">"Well done Kelvin Kiarie. This is a proud moment for you and for our nation. You have conquered the continent, and your journey is an inspiration to many aspiring sportsmen and women in Kenya and Africa… Congratulations, and keep flying our flag high," President Ruto wrote.</cite>

<cite index="48-1,48-2">Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports Salim Mvurya, alongside Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, hosted Kiarie on Friday, May 8, 2026, to officially recognise his recent international triumphs.</cite> <cite index="48-4">The Ministry said it honoured and awarded Kiarie for his collective wins across all international competitions, though the details of the awards remained undisclosed.</cite>

Two weeks later, Kiarie is still waiting for the money he needs to compete at the international level.

A Pattern of Self-Funding

<cite index="43-9">Kiarie's inability to travel exposes a massive disconnect between administrative praise and actual athletic backing.</cite> His journey to becoming Africa's best inline freestyle skater has been paved entirely with personal sacrifice and public crowdfunding—never government support.

<cite index="46-5,46-8,46-9,46-10,46-11">To get to the African Championships in Egypt, where he eventually bagged double gold, Kiarie had to seek financial assistance on TikTok. "For Egypt, I put a video on TikTok asking Kenyans to donate. They raised Ksh220,000. That's how I bought my ticket and accommodation. I even took a matatu to the airport to board that flight."</cite>

<cite index="47-9,47-10">At a previous international competition in Benin, he represented Kenya alone, funding his own travel, training himself, and navigating the experience without institutional backing. Despite those challenges, he still managed to win gold and silver medals.</cite>

“"Today I have not been able to travel to China for my Sichuan event because of lack of funds. I've not yet received the award as promised." — Kelvin Kiarie”

Training in a Basement

<cite index="46-18">Kiarie's path to glory was paved with a Ksh1,500 pair of second-hand skates from Gikomba market and a matatu ride to the airport.</cite> <cite index="46-23,46-24">Kenya does not have a single public skating rink. Kiarie revealed that he was once banned from Kasarani Stadium and now trains in the basement of his apartment building or in empty car parks.</cite>

His breakthrough came through the kindness of a stranger. <cite index="46-13,46-21">During a world championship event in Singapore, a competitor noticed that the Kenyan representative was skating on gear that was not fit for professional competition. That stranger subsequently sent Kiarie a professional pair of skates worth over Ksh150,000—the very gear he used to conquer Africa weeks later.</cite>

What's at Stake

<cite index="43-4,43-5">The Sichuan Inline Freestyle Skating Competition Exchange Programme officially commenced on Thursday (May 21) in Chengdu. The critical developmental and competitive program is scheduled to run until June 30.</cite> Missing it means losing a rare opportunity to train alongside some of the world's best skaters and prepare for the World Skate Games in Paraguay later this year.

<cite index="49-4,49-5">Kiarie became an instant Kenyan hero after his stunning win in international skating competitions in Benin where he bagged gold and silver before adding another two gold medals in the Africa Skate Games in Egypt. His victory earned him a place at the World Skate Games in Paraguay in October this year.</cite>

<cite index="49-10,49-13,49-15,49-16">The government had pledged to support him. Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi made the promise when the skating sensation paid him a courtesy visit in Nairobi on Friday, with the PS stating the government would cater for his preparations, including a two-week training camp in China, before heading to South America.</cite> That promise has not been kept.

The Bigger Picture

<cite index="52-13,52-17">Despite the Ministry of Youth, Creative Economy and Sports allocating Ksh13.5 billion to the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund in the 2025/26 budget, Kiarie financed his own trips to both Benin and Cairo.</cite>

<cite index="46-25,46-26,46-27">"I humbly ask the CS for Sports: skating is a household sport for many urban families. Give them an upper hand; create for them a skating rink. I'm the same person expected to go to Singapore or Egypt and come back with gold, but I have no environment for training," Kiarie has said.</cite>

For now, Africa's skating champion remains grounded in Nairobi—waiting for a phone call, a wire transfer, or any sign that the accolades he received two weeks ago will translate into the support he was promised.

Reporting drawn from Capital FM Kenya, AllAfrica, K24 Digital, Citizen Digital, Pulse Sports Kenya, Eastleigh Voice.