NAIROBI, Kenya, November 6, 2026 – Organisers of the Eldoret City Marathon have denied accusations of financial mismanagement against them even as the storm over the exclusion of the annual event from Athletics Kenya (AK) calendar of activities rages on.
In a statement, the organisers described the allegations as false and misleading, insisting that everything they have done thus far has been above board.
“The organizers of the Eldoret City Marathon wish to address false allegations and misleading rumors regarding the financial management of the marathon. We maintain complete transparency, legal compliance, and dedication to the welfare of athletes and vendors,” the statement read.
The organisers further said the funds received from the government and sponsors has been well accounted for.
“Under World Athletics regulations, Athletics Kenya (AK) road running rules, and public finance laws, government sponsorship funds allocated for categorized athletic events are never deposited into or managed by the private bank accounts of the Eldoret City Marathon organizers or any private organizer,” they said.
They then went on to enumerate how they have spent funds over the years, beginning with 2024 through to this year.
Nonetheless, the organisers acknowledged that there are cases where the marathon has delayed in settling arrears owed to winners.
“Delayed payment cycles – while regrettable – are common across Kenyan road races operating within statutory public fund disbursement timelines. However, the Eldoret City Marathon has never defaulted on athlete payouts in any edition,” they said.
The statement added: “Any claims of fund misappropriation by race organizers are completely false and defamatory. All payment trails, audit records, and statutory banking workflows remain open, transparent, and fully verifiable.”
The statement comes a day after the officials, led by race director Moses Tanui, lamented over the alleged exclusion of the seven-year-old road race from the 2026/27 calendar.
The officials attributed the decision to malice on the part of AK, particularly owing to what they termed as their push for a new constitution within the federation.
