In a Kenyan town known for its athletics, authorities on Wednesday night hastily removed statues of runners that some people considered shabby, on the eve of an event to grant the township city status.

The Rift Valley town of Eldoret, home to many great runners, had earlier this week installed a series of themed artworks to showcase its agricultural and sporting heritage. The sculptures included statues of athletes and that of a corn cob next to a stalk of wheat.

Photos of the artwork sparked an uproar on social media, with Kenyans mocking them and criticising the city administration and the sculptors.

One of the statues being mocked depicted a running woman holding a miniature flag of Kenya in her left hand. Social media users immediately mocked the statue’s unrecognizable face and exaggerated features.

“Starting in Eldoret City. Who is that? This is a violation,” wrote one X user, Eve Maina.

“This is shabby and crappy to say the least. We can do better,” said X-user Nyapara Ndege.

Another user, Kevin J. Muringih, said the city must have “subcontracted the same guy” who made a bronze bust of Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo in 2017 that also drew ridicule.

Another sculpture from Eldoret, depicting a male athlete with similarly exaggerated facial features, has also been the target of jokes among Kenyans on social media.

Following the criticism, authorities in Uasin Gishu County removed the statues at night.

On Thursday, Eldoret was granted city status at a ceremony presided over by President William Ruto at the Eldoret Sports Club.

On the same day, the President honoured Kenyan medalists from the Paris Olympic Games at an event at the State Lodge in Eldoret.

The athletes then held an open float parade, drawing cheers from thousands of residents who gathered in the city streets to celebrate them.

Kenya is known for its dominance in running and boasts some of the world’s best athletes, including former marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon, the current world record holder in the 1,500 meters and the mile.

With four gold, two silver and five bronze medals, the East African country was the best-placed African nation at the Paris Olympics, finishing 17th overall.