By Grace Gilo
The government has enhanced the reward scheme for athletes who win medals at global competitions, President William Ruto has announced.
The President said gold medal winners in athletics will now receive KSh3 million, up from KSh750,000.
Silver medallists will earn KSh2 million, an increase from Sh500,000, while bronze medallists will receive KSh1 million, up from Sh350,000.
He also said the government has increased daily allowances of athletes from $60 (KSh7,800) to $200 (KSh26,000) for athletes, and from $80 to $300 for officials representing the country abroad.
“We have also enhanced rewards for winners in the Commonwealth Games. The new package raises cash awards for gold medal winners from KSh500,000 to KSh2.5 million, KSh300,000 to KSh1.5 million for silver, and KSh200,000 to KSh1 million for bronze,” he said.
“The Ministry of Sports is going to review other packages to make sure that we encourage the sporting spirit in Kenya,” he added.
President Ruto made the remarks at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday when he flagged off athletes who will represent Kenya at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo between September 13 and 21 2025.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei, and team captain Julius Yego were present.
The President wished the athletes success as they carry the nation’s flag to Tokyo.
He assured the team his commitment to supporting sports in the country and tapping into the enormous talent of young people.
He said the government is reorganising sports management, developing infrastructure and supporting athletes.
“To unlock the talent that we have in sports, we need to provide infrastructure to support it,” he said.
The President disclosed that Talanta Stadium, which is under construction, will be the most modern stadium in the region.
“We now have the money to build more stadia across the country,” he added.
The President said the government has made changes to ensure that money from the Sports Fund is ring-fenced for sports development only.
CS Mvurya said the government will continue making deliberate interventions to support talent development in sports.
“President Ruto has made a deliberate effort to ensure that talent development becomes a source of livelihood for our young men and women,” he said.
AK President Tuwei pointed out that the Kenyan team has always performed well at world athletics tournaments and expressed confidence that they will maintain the spirit this year.
He also announced that Kenya is bidding to host the World Athletics Championships in 2029 or 2031, a move President Ruto supported.
Team captain Yego commended the government for enhancing athletes’ rewards. He also praised the President’s agenda in infrastructure development, saying it would boost sports in the country.
Mr Yego noted that through government intervention, more sponsors are stepping in to support sports.
Athlete Mary Moraa said the team is ready for the World Championships and pledged that they will bring home many medals.