The statues were removed overnight before President William Ruto officially declared Eldoret a city.

The city unveiled several works of art this week, including three statues of athletes and other monuments such as a corn cob and a milk fountain.

They were intended to represent the region’s sporting and agricultural heritage and were erected at various strategic roundabouts in the city.

But the works of art immediately attracted widespread criticism and became the object of ridicule rather than the pride they were intended to inspire.

A Kenyan who shared a photo, external a statue of an athlete believed to be 1,500m world record holder Faith Kipyegon, said the works represented “our collective mediocrity as a country”.

“It is a shame to call her a Faith Kipyegon statue,” said another Kenyan on X, external said.

Another X, external One user shared an alleged statue of marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, calling it a “joke” and saying, “Whoever did this will not see heaven.”

On Thursday morning, local media published images of an empty pedestal on which one of the statues had stood.

A local reporter told the BBC that county officials removed the three statues – two depicting female athletes and one depicting a male athlete – on Wednesday evening and took them to an unknown location.

Authorities have not specified who they depict, but social media users described one statue as Kipyegon and another as Kipchoge.

However, their portrayal of the athletes was described as “shameless,” “embarrassing,” and “inferior.”

Kenyans have welcomed the removal of the statues online. It is unclear whether and when they will be replaced.

Ahead of the ceremony declaring Eldoret the fifth city of Kenya, President Ruto received athletes who won medals at the 2024 Olympic Games.

They were rewarded with money as part of a government program designed to motivate athletes to perform well.

Kenya was the best-placed African country at the Paris Olympics, finishing 17th in the medal table with four gold medals and a total of eleven medals.

Kipyegon won the 1,500-meter title with a new Olympic record time of 3 minutes, 51.29 seconds, becoming the first woman to win three consecutive gold medals in the event.

She also won silver in the 5,000-meter run.

However, Kipchoge did not finish the marathon because a back injury forced him to give up.