African champion Kevin Kiarie misses China training tour despite government reward pledge

Kenyan freestyle skater Kevin Kiarie has revealed that he missed a trip to China for an elite international skating exchange program due to a lack of funding.

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In an emotional video shared online, Kiarie disclosed that he failed to travel for the Sichuan High-T International Inline Freestyle Competition Exchange Programme in Chengdu after being unable to raise the funds required for the trip.

“Hello, guys, my name is Skater Kevin Kiarie. So, just a small update. Today I’ve not been able to travel to China for my Z1 event because of a lack of funds,” he said.

“And I’ve not yet received the awards as promised because otherwise I would have been able to sponsor myself. But I’m still training with the same determination and the same commitment.”

The setback comes only weeks after Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi assured the African freestyle slalom champion that the government would reward him under the country’s athlete recognition policy.

During a meeting at Talanta Plaza, Mwangi praised Kiarie for raising Kenya’s profile in emerging sports disciplines.

“We are proud of you and what you are doing. As per our policy on rewarding athletes, we will reward you accordingly,” Mwangi had said.

Kiarie had been selected for the elite training exchange program scheduled from May 21 to June 3 in Chengdu, China.

This opportunity was expected to expose him to world-class coaching and intensive training sessions with High-T, one of the world’s leading freestyle skating teams.

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For the Nairobi-based athlete, the missed trip adds to a journey that has largely been built on sacrifice, resilience, and public goodwill.

Kiarie shot into continental prominence after clinching double gold in freestyle battle and classic slalom at the African Skating Championships in Cairo, Egypt.

However, even during that successful campaign, he relied on public fundraising after struggling to secure sponsorship support.

Kenyans contributed more than Sh220,000 through TikTok fundraising appeals to help him travel to Egypt, where he eventually emerged as the African champion.

Despite his growing international reputation, Kiarie continues to face challenges common among athletes competing in non-mainstream sports in Kenya, including a lack of facilities, sponsorship, and structured development systems.

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His skating journey began in 2017 while studying at the Technical University of Kenya after he bought second-hand skates from Gikomba Market using part of his HELB funds.

What initially started as a hobby gradually transformed into a professional career after realizing the sport could open doors to international opportunities.

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Recognition of his talent later came from abroad when a fellow athlete in Singapore sponsored him with professional-grade skates worth over Sh150,000 after noticing he was competing using worn-out equipment.

Kiarie has since continued to impress internationally, adding gold and silver medals from the International Skating Challenge in Benin while representing Kenya as the sole athlete in the competition.