Kenyan skater Kevin Kiarie Ruhiu has hit back at the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, accusing officials of telling “blatant lies” over claims that they attempted to support his participation in the 2026 World Skate Games in Paraguay.
Kiarie’s response came after the Ministry issued a statement defending its handling of his visa and travel arrangements for the competition in Asunción.
The Ministry said it intervened after Kiarie publicly sought assistance from Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi over his travel arrangements.
However, Kiarie strongly disputed the account, saying he and his supporters were forced to fundraise for his ticket and accommodation despite public assurances that the government would support his participation.
“I have noted a social media post from the CS Sports H.E. Salim Mvurya claiming to have supported me, another lie,” Kiarie said.
He also challenged the Ministry’s claims regarding the intervention by Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi.
“Through your PS @ElijahGMwangi you came out publicly to announce supporting my participation at the World Skate Games, another lie because we ended up fundraising for the ticket & Accommodation,” he said.
The exchange has sparked a wider dispute over government support for Kenyan athletes, with the Ministry pointing to visa procedures and travel documentation while Kiarie insists the problem was a failure to provide promised support.
Ministry explains Kevin Kiarie visa dispute
In a statement dated October 7, 2026, the Ministry said it had taken note of concerns raised by Kiarie regarding his visa process and travel arrangements for the World Skate Games.
The Ministry described Kiarie as an accomplished athlete who had represented Kenya with distinction and contributed to the growth of skating in the country.
“Kevin is an accomplished athlete who has represented Kenya with distinction and contributed to the growth and visibility of skating in the country,” the Ministry said.
“The Ministry recognizes his achievements and remains supportive of his sporting ambitions,” it added.
According to the Ministry, officials became aware of Kiarie’s situation after he shared a video on social media seeking intervention from the Sports Principal Secretary.
“Upon becoming aware of Kevin's concerns through a video shared on social media, in which he sought the intervention of the Principal Secretary for Sports, Elijah Mwangi and the Ministry, the Principal Secretary directed the Directorate of Sports to immediately engage him,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry said Sports Director Dr Bernard Ouma subsequently contacted Kiarie to establish the circumstances surrounding his travel and visa requirements.
Why Panama became a problem
According to the Ministry, Kiarie informed Dr Ouma that his booked itinerary required him to transit through Panama and that he needed assistance obtaining the necessary transit visa documentation.
“As Panama does not maintain a resident embassy in Kenya, the matter required facilitation through the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and the appropriate Panamanian diplomatic channels,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry said the issue arose over the weekend and officials began preparing the necessary correspondence.
“Since the matter arose over the weekend, the Directorate commenced preparations for the necessary official correspondence to facilitate his request at the earliest opportunity,” it said.
Officials also advised Kiarie to consider alternative travel routes that would avoid the Panama transit visa requirement.
“He was therefore requested to provide an updated itinerary to enable the Ministry to determine and facilitate the most practical intervention,” the Ministry said.
However, the Ministry said the itinerary initially presented by Kiarie was for October 2 and had already lapsed by the time officials were handling the matter.
“The itinerary initially presented by Kevin was for travel on 2nd October and had already lapsed by the time the Directorate was handling the matter,” it said.
The Ministry further claimed that Kiarie did not provide an updated itinerary despite follow-up.
“Despite subsequent follow-up, an updated itinerary, necessary to progress either the diplomatic or alternative travel intervention, was not provided by Kevin,” the statement said.
Ministry defends visa support process
The Ministry maintained that visa facilitation involving foreign governments must follow established diplomatic procedures.
“The Ministry wishes to clarify that visa facilitation and international travel interventions involving foreign missions are undertaken through established Government and diplomatic procedures,” it said.
“Successful and timely intervention therefore depends on early engagement and the provision of complete and valid travel documentation.”
The Ministry urged athletes and sporting federations to engage government authorities early enough when preparing for international competitions.
“Athletes and federations are consequently encouraged to engage the Ministry sufficiently in advance to allow the necessary administrative, financial and diplomatic processes to be undertaken,” it said.
Kiarie disputes Ministry’s previous support claims
The Ministry also pushed back against suggestions that it had never supported Kiarie’s international sporting career.
It said the athlete had previously benefited from government support towards his participation in international competitions, including the Africa Skating Championships in Egypt.
The Ministry further said Kiarie’s cash award entitlements arising from the Benin International Challenge and Africa Skating Championships had been fully paid.
“The Ministry further maintains that Kevin has previously benefited from Government support towards his participation in international competitions, including the Africa Skating Championships in Egypt,” it said.
Kiarie strongly rejected the claim.
“I have never been supported to any of the competitions by the ministry of sports, not even the African Championship,” he said.
He also questioned the whereabouts of funds he says were approved for athletes.
“Money was approved, but hainifikii mchezaji, where is it going?” Kiarie asked.
The skater further criticised the assistance he says he received from the Directorate of Sports.
“Director sports said he would help, but he did not because after asking the questions he was asking, he was not helpful,” Kiarie said.
He claimed the lack of effective intervention eventually resulted in him missing sporting events.
“I ended up missing the events, that was not intended to support, that was pretending to help,” he said.
“There was no goodwill,” Kiarie added.
Kevin Kiarie demands answers from Ministry
Kiarie also questioned why the Ministry did not support his World Skate Games participation despite what he described as repeated public announcements by the Principal Secretary.
“Why did the ministry not support the world skate games despite continuously announcing in public through the PS @elijahmwangi?” he asked.
He said he had formally written to the Ministry seeking information on funds allegedly approved for his competitions.
“I wrote requesting to know how much was approved under my name for any of my events, in which we provided the documents,” Kiarie said.
He challenged the Ministry to provide an answer.
“Kindly give us the response,” he said.
Ministry says it remains ready to engage Kiarie
Despite the escalating exchange, the Ministry said it remained willing to engage Kiarie and work with the skating fraternity.
“The Ministry remains available to engage Kevin constructively and will continue working with the skating fraternity to strengthen the sport and expand opportunities for Kenyan athletes,” it said.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to supporting Kenyan athletes across established and emerging sporting disciplines.
“The Ministry remains committed to supporting Kevin and all Kenyan athletes, across both established and emerging sporting disciplines, to pursue opportunities to represent the country internationally,” it said.
The dispute has now shifted beyond the Panama visa issue to a broader disagreement over government funding, athlete support and accountability.
While the Ministry maintains that visa complications, the expired itinerary and the absence of an updated travel schedule affected its ability to intervene, Kiarie says the central issue was the failure to deliver the support he says was publicly promised.
He is now demanding details of the funds allegedly approved for his participation in international competitions and an explanation of what happened to the money.
The competing accounts have placed renewed attention on the challenges faced by athletes in emerging sporting disciplines and the mechanisms used by the government to support Kenyans representing the country internationally.
The Ministry’s statement was signed by Head of Public Communications Juney Karisa on October 7, 2026.
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