Former athletes have protested the exclusion of the Eldoret City Marathon from Athletics Kenya’s (AK) recently released 2026/2027 calendar.
Led by race founder and two-time Boston Marathon champion Moses Tanui, the former athletes have demanded an explanation from the federation and warned that the move could deny hundreds of athletes opportunities that the race has created over the past seven years.
Addressing the press at the Eldoret Sports Club on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Tanui said they had followed the required procedure by formally writing to Athletics Kenya to secure a date for the 2027 edition.
Tanui said the organisers requested April 11, 2027, for the race and submitted their request early enough to facilitate planning. He noted that Abbott, the organisation behind the World Marathon Majors, also recognises the marathon and has already included the proposed date in its calendar.
“Abbott recognises us, and they have included our date in their calendar. We wrote to them the same day we wrote to AK, so I don’t know what happened with AK,” said Tanui.
He also dismissed claims that the race has unresolved prize money issues, saying nearly all athletes who participated in the latest edition have been paid. According to Tanui, the only outstanding payment involves the women’s champion, a Ugandan who won this year’s edition, due to restrictions on transferring public funds directly to a foreign bank account.
Why did AK omit Eldoret City Marathon from its calendar?
The concerns were echoed by former world champion Christopher Kosgey, who questioned the criteria used to omit the marathon from the 2027 calendar.
Kosgey argued that the race has become an important platform for nurturing young athletes while also attracting sponsors who have consistently supported athletics development in the region. He said Athletics Kenya should openly explain the reasons behind its decision if the event failed to meet any requirements.
“What criteria did they use in omitting the Eldoret City Marathon from the calendar? If there is a law the marathon violated, they have to come clear and say it openly,” said Kosgey.
He added that over the years the marathon has established itself as one of the country’s major athletics events and has helped strengthen competition and talent development in the North Rift region.
Former 3,000m steeplechase star Wilson Boit Kipketer described the omission as shocking, saying the race serves athletes from across Kenya and beyond rather than only those from the local community.
Kipketer said the marathon has become one of the biggest sources of earnings for athletes, distributing millions of shillings in prize money annually and providing a reliable competition platform for both established and upcoming runners.
“The marathon has done many good things for athletes for the last seven years. Its prize money is KSh18 million every year, and over 280 athletes have directly benefited,” said Kipketer.
He questioned why a race that has contributed significantly to athletes’ welfare and careers would be left out of the national calendar.
How omission of Eldoret City Marathon could affect young athletes
Former two-time World Cross Country champion John Kibowen expressed concern that the exclusion could affect young athletes who rely on local competitions to showcase their talent and earn a livelihood.
Kibowen said the marathon has provided opportunities for many athletes who have not yet secured managers or invitations to compete abroad.
“The marathon has helped many athletes, especially those who had not had an opportunity to compete abroad. AK is supposed to develop sports, not ruin them,” said Kibowen.
He urged Athletics Kenya to reconsider its position, arguing that the marathon remains an important stepping stone for emerging athletes seeking exposure and competitive opportunities.
The former athletes maintained that the Eldoret City Marathon has evolved into one of the country’s premier road races and called on Athletics Kenya to explain its decision and consider reinstating the event in the 2027 calendar.
Athletics Kenya had not publicly explained the omission at the time of publication.
