Kenyan skater Kevin Kiarie Ruhiu is once again asking for public support after missing several international competitions while waiting for government funding and reimbursements he says he was promised.
The dispute has now placed the Sports Ministry and the skating federation under pressure after conflicting accounts emerged over money meant to support the athlete.
Sports PS Elijah Mwangi, in a brief shared by Dennis Itumbi, said KSh 641,900 was approved and fully released to the federation for the Africa Skating Championships in Egypt. According to the ministry, KSh 380,000 remains payable to Kiarie by the federation and the PS has directed that the money be released immediately.
But Kiarie says he has received nothing from the approved reimbursement.
“Of the total approved reimbursement, I have received 0 shillings.”
The skater has now provided a timeline showing how he has repeatedly relied on friends, supporters and his own savings to represent Kenya in international competitions.
November 2025 ¶
Kiarie says he had to fundraise from friends to travel to Singapore for the 2025 World Championship.
Despite the financial difficulties, he made it to the finals and finished 18th in the world.
He says he did not have a coach with him, forcing a coach from Benin to sit with him on the bench and assist him during the competition.
April 2026 ¶
Kiarie travelled to an international skating competition in Benin using his own money.
He went on to win Gold and Silver medals, bringing attention to Kenya after his strong performance.
But according to the athlete, his victory has not been officially recognised by the government to date.
Kiarie says Sports PS Elijah Mwangi had committed to reimbursing him for self sponsored events, including the competitions in Benin, Singapore and Egypt.
He claims that despite making formal follow ups, the promised reimbursements have still not reached him.
May 2026 ¶
Kiarie nearly missed the Africa Skating Championships in Egypt.
He says Kenyans stepped in and contributed money to help him travel after he struggled to secure the funds needed for the trip.
He eventually made it to Egypt and won two Gold medals at the African Championship.
The medals further raised his profile as one of Kenya’s leading skating talents.
June 2026 ¶
His problems continued when he was scheduled to travel to China.
Kiarie says Kenyans again came to his rescue, contributing money alongside the little savings he had managed to put aside.
He says he obtained his Chinese visa on the final day and travelled immediately.
But the Sports Ministry says the visa was issued after the Sichuan High T Competition had already ended, meaning he could not participate.
July 2026 ¶
Kiarie says he missed the Inline Freestyle World Cup in Italy after the Ministry of Sports declined to sponsor his participation.
The missed competition became another setback for an athlete who had already demonstrated that he could compete at international level.
August 2026 ¶
Kiarie says he has now missed another international championship in Chile, adding to the list of competitions he says he has been unable to attend because of funding problems.
He says he has missed three international competitions despite being assured that government support would be provided.
The ministry, for its part, says funding for some of the competitions could not be approved because of pending audit queries and the absence of formally approved event budgets before the competitions.
Kiarie now fundraising again ¶
The latest development shows just how difficult the situation has become for the athlete.
On Thursday morning, Kiarie appealed to Kenyans for financial support, saying he had so far raised KSh 135,000 against a target that leaves a balance of KSh 205,000.
“Good morning Kenyans. We are now at KSh 135,000, we have a balance of KSh 205,000. This is some really good progress, I appreciate. Slowly and gradually approaching.”
He provided the number 0758514315 for those willing to support him.
The appeal has raised fresh questions about why an athlete who has won medals for Kenya is still forced to depend on public fundraising to attend international competitions.
The ministry says Kiarie’s request for funding for the 2026 World Inline Freestyle Championship has been received and is currently going through the approval process.
It has further maintained that the KSh 380,000 owed to him by the federation should be released immediately.
But Kiarie’s account tells a different story.
He says the federation has still not channelled the money four months after the commitment was made, despite his formal follow ups.
The contradiction is now difficult to ignore.
The government says money was approved and released to the federation. The athlete says he has received zero shillings from the reimbursement.
Meanwhile, Kiarie continues to miss international competitions and is back asking Kenyans to contribute money so he can pursue his sporting career.
For an athlete who finished 18th in the world in Singapore, won Gold and Silver in Benin and later secured two Gold medals at the African Championship in Egypt, the question is no longer whether he can compete.
The question is why he continues to struggle to get the financial support needed to represent Kenya.
The Sports Ministry and the skating federation now need to clearly account for the funds, explain the delay and tell Kenyans when Kiarie will actually receive the money he says he is owed.