Animal sculptures at JKIA have prompted online criticism over their design and workmanship.
Kenyans question the wildlife figures’ design and workmanship, while Chimano and Savara join the online reaction.
Newly installed JKIA animal sculptures have drawn ridicule online, with Kenyans questioning their design, workmanship and suitability for the airport.
The thin metal-and-wire figures resemble wildlife, including wildebeests and antelopes. They appear to form part of landscaping and beautification work around Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
However, their unusual proportions and finishing have puzzled social media users. Some struggled to identify which animals the figures were meant to represent.
JKIA animal sculptures attract celebrity reactions
The criticism gathered pace after a social media creator shared a nighttime video of the installations. The creator questioned both their appearance and spending on the project.
One wildebeest-like figure appeared to lift a leg in a pose that viewers considered unnatural. Another figure also drew attention because its shape made the intended animal difficult to identify.
Meanwhile, some commenters raised questions about public spending, with one suggesting taxpayers had paid for the work. Those reactions mixed complaints about the sculptures’ appearance with scrutiny of their suitability for Kenya’s main international gateway.
Former Sauti Sol members Chimano and Savara also joined the discussion. Chimano posted laughing emojis, while Savara expressed embarrassment over the sculptures.
Earlier monuments faced similar criticism
The reaction recalls earlier disputes over public artwork in Nairobi and elsewhere in Kenya. In March 2019, a lion sculpture at the University Way-Uhuru Highway roundabout drew mockery for its rough mane and unusual appearance.
However, then Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko defended the installation as a temporary model for local artists to take measurements. He said on Facebook that the final sculpture had reached 75 per cent completion. A more polished version subsequently replaced it overnight.
JKIA’s Ndovu Roundabout also attracted criticism in 2024 after mobile-phone company Tecno’s colours appeared on the site. The roundabout featured a stationary Boeing 737-200 aircraft alongside elephant sculptures.
Aviation commentator Mohammed Hersi questioned the quality of those sculptures, particularly the figures depicting young elephants. His criticism similarly focused on the standard of the artwork.
Beyond Nairobi, Eldoret authorities removed three athlete statues in 2024 following complaints from residents. Critics considered them substandard and said they bore little resemblance to the athletes they were meant to honour. The authorities took them down overnight after widespread public criticism.
