This archive report was first published on 30 November 2019.
On November 30, 2019, Kenyans took to social media to express their frustration over the inability to vote for Eliud Kipchoge in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2019 award.
Kipchoge, the world marathon record holder, was nominated alongside other international athletes including Simone Biles, Siya Kolisi, Megan Rapinoe, Steve Smith, and Tiger Woods.
However, when Kenyans and other Africans tried to vote for Kipchoge on the BBC website, they were met with a message stating that the vote was 'not available in their location.'
Users on social media questioned the fairness of the voting process, with some accusing the BBC of rigging the vote in favor of European countries.
Comrade Otoa noted, 'BBC says this vote is not available in my location. What a wow. So Ugandans can't vote!!!! Shame that the vote is controlled by Europe. Unfair advantage.'
Bironga O'Makori also commented, 'Yo Eliud bro, these BBC guys have rigged Kenya and the region out of the vote. Fair? You're still the world's greatest.'
It's worth noting that Kipchoge made history in October by becoming the first man to run a marathon in under two hours, completing the 42-km race in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds in Vienna, Austria.
