Athlete Caroline Chepkoech Renounces Kenyan Citizenship

Kenyan-born athlete Caroline Chepkoech is set to represent Kazakhstan in track events after renouncing her Kenyan citizenship.

Chepkoech, a former African cross-country record holder, will represent the Central Asian nation in this year’s Boston Marathon on October 11th.

A list of participants released by the organizers of the event shows that the 27-year-old long-distance runner will take part in the race as a Kazakh national.

The former 10-mile world record holder will lock horns with other Kenyan athletes such as Angela Tanui, who won the Siena Marathon in Italy earlier this year with a personal best of 2:20:08.

The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan does not allow the country’s citizens to hold any other nationality.

This means Chepkoech had to relinquish her Kenyan citizenship in order to become a Kazakh national.

Speaking to a local news outlet, Kenya Athletics Head Coach Julius Kirwa confirmed Chepkoech applied to change her nationality in 2018, but had to wait for three years to run for Kazakhstan. 

“Caroline Chepkoech changed nationality from Kenya to Kazakhstan in 2018. To compete for Kazakhstan after changing nationality, you have to stay three years without participating,” Kirwa said.

Chepkoech, who was born and raised in Kericho, is the younger sister of fellow long-distance runner Mercy Cherono.