Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has denied role in the embarrassing statues that were put up in Eldoret town as the city prepared for its official elevation.
The poorly made sculptures caused a lot of anger on social media, leading to their quick removal.
Speaking at a church event in Eldoret on Sunday, August 18, 2024, Governor Bii said the statues were not created by the county government but by well-wishers who wanted to help decorate the town.
“The well-wishers promised to take care of the streets and roundabouts and had planned to surprise us with some statues,” he said.
Bii explained that the county did not have a budget for these statues. He expressed shock at how the statues turned out. “We were excited to see the unveiling, but what we got was surprising,” he added.
The statues were revealed just a day before President Ruto officially lifted Eldoret to city status on August 15.
Describing the statues, Bii said, “One side looked like a person, while the other side looked like Satan.” These sculptures were meant to honor 1500m Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon, but they clearly missed the mark.
While the governor apologized for the situation, he wanted to make it clear that the county was not at fault. “I’m sorry for what happened, but we cannot be blamed for these poorly made statues,” he concluded.
