Govt Finally Recognises Skating Star Kevin Kiarie After Self-Funded Global Success
The government, through Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Korir Sing’Oei has finally recognized Kenya’s leading inline freestyle skater, Kevin Kiarie. The PS hosted the talented skater as they discussed how Kenya can grow skating and explore ways to build stronger support for the fast-growing sport.
The meeting followed a standout period for Kiarie. He has emerged as one of Africa’s top freestyle slalom skaters, even though Kenya has given the discipline limited attention and investment.
After the meeting, Kiarie said he felt encouraged by the discussions and expressed hope for the sport’s future in Kenya.
“Yesterday, I had a productive meeting with PS Korir Sing’Oei to discuss the growth of skating in Kenya and opportunities to strengthen support for the sport. I appreciate the time and our encouraging discussions,” he wrote on his social media pages.
PS Sing’Oei praised Kiarie for consistently promoting Kenya internationally. He pointed to Kiarie’s recent performances on both the continental and global stages.
“I received Kenya’s professional inline freestyle skater, Kevin Kiarie. I congratulated him on his stellar achievements, including double gold at this year’s Africa Skate Games in Egypt and ranking 18th globally at the Singapore World Championships in 2025. Kiarie is a brilliant ambassador, putting Kenya on the global map. We remain committed to supporting him and our youth as they pursue their talents and represent our great country,” the PS said.
Kiarie’s most recent breakthrough came at the 2026 Africa Skate Games in Egypt, where he won gold medals in both the Freestyle Battle and Classic Slalom events. Those wins solidified his position as one of the continent’s top freestyle skaters. Earlier this year, Kenya sent him as its only representative to the International Skating Challenge in Benin, and he returned with a gold and a silver medal.
Kiarie’s rise has depended on resilience and confidence in himself. He first discovered skating in 2014 while studying Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Kenya. He used Sh1,500 from his first Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) disbursement to buy a second-hand pair of skates from Gikomba Market.
With few public skating rinks available for training, he honed his skills in apartment basements and empty parking lots. He then worked his way up through the ranks and eventually became an African champion.
Money-related challenges also shaped his career. Before the Africa Skate Games, Kiarie appealed for public support after he struggled to fund his trip to Egypt. Through crowdfunding, Kenyans raised more than Sh220,000 to help him compete. Although the Ministry of Sports later approved reimbursement funds, the delays reportedly kept him from attending a high-performance training camp in China.
Even with these setbacks, Kiarie has continued to compete against the world’s best. At the same time, he has pushed for the growth of freestyle skating in Kenya, inspiring a new wave of athletes in a sport that the country is still developing.
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