By Doris Moraa, July 15, 2026
The government has recognized Kenyan professional inline freestyle skater Kevin Kiarie for his remarkable achievements on the international stage, with Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei hosting and congratulating the athlete for elevating Kenya’s profile in the fast-growing sport.
During the meeting, Sing’oei hailed Kiarie as an inspiration to young athletes, saying his determination and resilience had demonstrated that Kenyan talent can excel globally even in disciplines that receive limited institutional support.
“We are proud of Kevin’s achievements and the way he continues to fly Kenya’s flag with distinction. His success is a testament to the resilience, talent and determination of Kenyan youth,” Sing’oei said.
The recognition follows Kiarie’s stellar performance at the 2026 Africa Skate Games held in Cairo, Egypt, where he secured two gold medals after winning both the Freestyle Battle Championship and the Classic Slalom competition. His victories cemented his position among Africa’s leading inline freestyle skaters.
The Cairo triumph came months after another impressive outing on the global stage. At the 2025 World Inline Freestyle Championships in Singapore, Kiarie finished 18th overall, becoming one of Kenya’s highest-ranked athletes in the discipline.
Before his success in Egypt, Kiarie represented Kenya at the International Challenge Skating Championships in Benin as the country’s sole competitor. He returned home with a gold medal in freestyle skating and a silver medal in slalom, further strengthening Kenya’s reputation in the sport.
Despite his growing list of international accolades, Kiarie’s journey has been marked by financial hardship. The 27-year-old athlete has previously spoken about funding his own participation in international competitions through personal savings, public fundraising campaigns and support from well-wishers.
At one point, he turned to social media platforms, including TikTok, to raise travel expenses after struggling to secure sponsorship. He also relied on public transport to reach the airport before travelling to represent Kenya abroad.
Speaking after the meeting, Kiarie welcomed the government’s recognition, saying it would inspire more young people to pursue sports beyond traditional disciplines.
“It is encouraging to know that our efforts are being recognized. I hope this inspires more young people to believe that they can compete internationally regardless of the sport they choose,” he said.
The athlete also appealed for increased investment in skating facilities, equipment and structured development programmes, noting that many talented skaters lack access to proper training infrastructure.
Sports stakeholders have described the government’s recognition as an important step towards promoting minority sports that have often received limited attention compared to athletics, football and rugby.
They argue that improved investment in skating infrastructure and talent development could position Kenya as a continental powerhouse in inline freestyle skating while creating new opportunities for young athletes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Kiarie’s achievements reflect Kenya’s growing sporting diversity and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting athletes who continue to raise the country’s profile on the global stage.
