Moments after President William Ruto congratulated Kenyan darts player, David Munywa, on his impressive performance in the ongoing 2026 Professional Darts Corporation World Darts Championship on Friday, Kenyans took to social media to castigate the government for failing to support the player.
On Friday, unranked Kenyan debutant Munyua stunned Belgian Mike De Decker, coming from behind to secure a 3-2 win in their Round One tie at the Alexandra Palace, popularly known as the Ally Pally, in the United Kingdom. De Becker is Belgium’s top-ranked darts player and also the world number 18 but Munyua sent him homeward with his stellar credentials.
David Munyua of Kenya celebrates after beating Mike de Decker of Belgium in the 2026 Professional Darts Corporation World Darts Championships on December 19, 2025 at Allexandra Palace in the United Kingdom.
Photo credit: Pool
“Congratulations, David Munyua, on your remarkable victory in round one at the Paddy Power World Drats Championship,” President Ruto wrote on his Twitter handle.
“By defeating Belgium’s Mike de Decker, an established champion, with a fearless comeback from two sets down, you delivered one of the most remarkable moments in the tournament’s history,” Ruto added.
“You have also made history for Kenya as the first Kenyan to compete in the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London, and announced your arrival on the global darts stage,” President Ruto said.
Kenya's Darts trailblazer Munyua speaks
But Kenyans took to social media to criticise the government for failing to support Munyua ahead of the championship.
Before making the trip to London two weeks ago, Munyua told local media that he wasn’t sure how he would fund the trip.
“I’m thinking of how I am going to make the trip to UK...air ticket...the hotel... how am I going to book the hotel? How will I afford the light arrows? I don’t want to go there and do all stuff on my own and then when I stand there, people say ‘Oh, this guy, we should have bought him some darts...we should have booked him a hotel since he is going to compete very far away,” I am thinking of how we can support our local brands internationally, and this is an opportunity to take some of our brands to the global stage,” Munyua said.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to congratulate him when the government didn’t give him any form of support for his trip,”@Mwango Capital wrote.
“So ‘we don’t fund pub sports’ has turned to ‘our champion’...you rejected his sponsorship application , refused to support him, then showed up for the clout. Spare us this hypocrisy.””@lynn_lysh wrote on the same platform.
“And the ministry didn’t even sponsor him with anything,”@ClassicBooks wrote.
“Asante Rais for supporting talent,”@Wabushii wrote.
“Congratulations from a government that refused to sponsor him. Mnakuwanga opportunist sana,” Wabushii wrote.
“Kenyans in the next 10 years, we will be winning almost everything. Daring nation. It’s no longer just athletics,” CEO Obadia wrote.
