Insiders within Kenya’s cycling fraternity have exposed a deeply troubling situation where the Kenya Cycling Federation (KCF) has failed to provide meaningful support or investment in athletes, allowing personal connections and favouritism to dictate which riders are selected for international competitions, leaving talented cyclists sidelined while the leadership continues to attend events and collect accolades without any visible representation or recognition for the athletes who are supposed to embody the nation on the world stage.
Reports from members of the cycling community indicate that the selection process for national and international events is conducted behind closed doors with no transparency, often favouring friends of officials or those who have influence within the federation, which has created an environment where merit and performance are irrelevant, and where the majority of hardworking cyclists are left disillusioned and unable to access opportunities that are formally meant to promote their careers and advance the sport in Kenya.
The governance structure of the federation has been criticized by insiders who describe decades of entrenched corruption and mismanagement dating back to the tenure of the late former CEO Julius Mwangi, whose forty-year leadership was marked by the diversion of funds, neglect of athlete development, and failure to reinvest in infrastructure.
His passing in December 2024 has done little to change the trajectory of the organization as his son and successor, Kelvin Mwangi, assumed control while reportedly perpetuating the same patterns of favouritism, opaque decision-making, and financial misappropriation, leaving the federation mired in dysfunction and Kenyan cyclists struggling to compete on equal footing with international peers who benefit from fully funded programs and professionally supported structures.
Athletes and observers further contend that the federation provides no tangible resources for riders, forcing them to use their personal bicycles and equipment in competitions against professionally supported international competitors, which not only undermines Kenya’s chances of achieving success but also exposes the riders to undue risk of injury and discouragement, all while the federation continues to project an image of progress and participation at international events with no evidence that the athletes themselves are present, supported, or adequately prepared for the level of competition they are meant to represent.
Voices within the cycling community are calling for urgent intervention from the Ministry of Sports and relevant oversight bodies, insisting that comprehensive reforms must be implemented to remove nepotism, establish transparent selection procedures, restore financial integrity, and provide proper support for riders so that Kenya can genuinely develop its cycling talent and compete credibly on regional and global stages, warning that continued neglect and mismanagement will permanently damage the sport and leave a generation of Kenyan cyclists without the opportunities and recognition they deserve.
Below is what members of the cycling fraternity have documented and shared as evidence of the ongoing mismanagement and neglect, detailing specific instances of withheld resources, opaque selection practices, and the lack of investment in both athlete development and essential equipment that have collectively hindered Kenya’s ability to compete effectively on the international cycling stage.
“Hi Nyakundi. Please hide my ID. There is a very big issue with the cycling fraternity.
In the picture above, the CS Salim Mvurya (Sports) boasts of attending the UCI World Cycling Championships in Rwanda, but there is no single picture of the athletes who represented Kenya in the event. This showcases the deplorable state of cycling in Kenya. For instance, riders for such events are handpicked, not on merit, but based on who knows who. The selection criteria are often discussed in boardrooms and are not transparent. The Kenya Cycling Federation has become a den of thieves, prevalent in siphoning funds meant for advancing cycling and destroying cycling careers. The former CEO, Julius Mwangi, held that seat for 40 years. Now his son, Kelvin Mwangi, has taken over as the new CEO and is committed to advancing the rot his father left at the federation. There is zero input and investment from the Federation. For instance, other cycling federations provide quality bikes and equipment for riders. However, in Kenya, athletes ride with their own bikes and are expected to compete with top professionals. Kindly advance this plea.”
