Athlete trafficking or opportunity? The dark side of U.S. college recruitment in Kenya

For 19-year-old Kelvin Kiptoo, a single lap could determine his entire future.

At the Lornah Kiplagat track in Iten, a stopwatch ticked in the hands of an American recruiter as Kiptoo powered through the curve, his spikes cutting small red clouds into the dust.

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His heart is pounding for more than just a finish time; it is pounding for a chance at a scholarship that could lift his family out of poverty.

Around him, dozens of other hopefuls lined up for their shot at the same dream: to run their way into an American university.

But beneath the optimism and opportunity, a troubling question lingers: is this a pathway to success, or a new form of exploitation?

That question lies at the heart of The Washington Post’s in-depth investigation into how Kenya’s rich athletic talent has become part of an unregulated global recruitment system feeding U.S. colleges.

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The golden pipeline

The publication revealed that over the last decade, U.S. college recruitment in Kenya has grown into a sophisticated operation. From Eldoret to Kapsabet, scouts and agencies run annual “scholarship trials” to identify the next crop of world-class runners.

One of the most active players is Scholarbook, a European-based agency that partners with American universities to place promising athletes.

Through such programs, more than 200 Kenyan athletes are estimated to join U.S. colleges every year, many from humble backgrounds, with dreams of studying and competing abroad.

On paper, it’s a win-win: universities get elite runners, and Kenyans get education and exposure. But behind the stopwatches and smiles lies a growing unease among coaches and athletics officials.

A dream with hidden costs

“I’m running for my family. If I make it, I’ll be the first from my home to ever leave Kenya,” Kiptoo told The Washington Post, sitting on the edge of a plastic chair in a modest hostel in Iten.

For athletes like him, a scholarship is more than an opportunity; it’s an escape. Many train without pay, rely on borrowed spikes, and live on the promise that one day a recruiter will notice them. Some even drop out of school to focus on running.

But as the competition intensifies, not everyone leaves the trials with a scholarship. A few find themselves signing contracts they barely understand. Others later discover that the scholarships only partially cover tuition, but not housing or meals.

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Veteran coach Rita Gary did not mince her words. “It’s athlete trafficking. Young people are being used as commodities. Recruiters come, pick who they want, and disappear with them. There’s no follow-up, no accountability, and no one checks how they’re treated once they leave,” Gary told the Washington Post.

Her frustration echoes across Kenya’s athletics community. Recruiters often take commissions for each placement, and some even pressure athletes to sign exclusive deals that give them total control over their careers.

In many cases, families never meet the agents, as all communication happens online, and documents are signed in haste.

While some athletes thrive, others vanish from the radar and remain stranded abroad or forced to return home after visa or injury setbacks.

The NCAA’s gray zone

The Washington Post reported that while the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) celebrates diversity, its recruitment system operates in a gray zone.

Although the NCAA enforces academic and eligibility standards, it rarely monitors how international athletes are sourced. This gap allows foreign agents and recruiters to operate with little oversight.

Some Kenyan runners enter U.S. universities as “freshmen” in their mid-20s, while others are pushed through without meeting academic requirements, all in the name of keeping college teams competitive.

“We export raw talent. But who protects it once it leaves?” one Kenyan coach asked.

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Visas and vulnerability

The investigation also uncovered how the visa race has created risky back channels. Some recruiters route athletes through countries such as Poland or Madagascar to bypass delays or rejection risks.

Once abroad, many face isolation, culture shock, and academic pressure. If they get injured or underperform, they risk losing their scholarships and being sent home with no financial safety nets.

The human cost

Not every dream has a happy ending. One Kenyan athlete revealed that his scholarship turned into a struggle for survival.

“They told me I’d study and run. But I became a runner, a student, and a janitor, all in one,” he said.

Back home, the competition to impress recruiters continues to intensify. Some athletes turn to doping or overtraining in a desperate attempt to stand out, a reflection of how the global scholarship chase has created a quiet, dangerous desperation.

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The moral question

So, is this athlete trafficking or an opportunity? That is the uncomfortable question readers are left with.

For every Kenyan runner who finds success in the U.S., there’s another who’s lost in the system. Until both Kenyan authorities and the NCAA strengthen oversight and transparency, this recruitment pipeline will remain both a blessing and a betrayal.

However, Kiptoo still trains, chasing a dream that could save him or consume him.

“I just want one chance, even if it breaks me,” Kiptoo said.

Originally published by The Washington Post