Pres. Ruto promises Team Kenya cash windfall if they conquer Tokyo Worlds

Speaking at State House, Nairobi, where the Head of State officially flagged off Team Kenya, Moraa promised medals for the nation but urged Ruto to also recognize the athletes’ sacrifices.

“As the Kenya team, we are ready to go to the World Championships, to conquer the world, and we promise you that you are going to come back with the main medals. Na wewe kama baba yetu, macho yote iko kwako, hope utacheza kama wewe,” Moraa said.

President Ruto used the occasion to announce a major boost in allowances and medal rewards for athletes. He directed Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya to raise the athletes’ daily stipend from 60 dollars (Sh7,740) to 200 dollars (Sh25,800), while officials will earn 300 dollars (Sh38,700).

“You know these people; before they come here, they have gone through hell—early mornings, late evenings, and sacrifices in between,” Ruto said. “So my instruction is that we increase their pay from 60 to 200 dollars a day.”

The President also confirmed that medal rewards have been revised upwards with gold medalist now set to receive Sh3 million, up from the previous Sh750,000, while a silver medalist will take home Sh2 million compared to Sh500,000 before.

Bronze medal winners will be awarded Sh1 million, an increase from Sh350,000.

“I did commit that we are going to review the rewards for our sportsmen and women. We’ve done it in football and now in athletics. This time, any Kenyan athlete who wins gold in Tokyo will walk home with Sh3 million,” Ruto emphasized.

Athletics Kenya President Rtd. Lt. Gen. Jackson Tuwei welcomed the move while highlighting Kenya’s growing global reputation.

“Out of all these athletes who have done well for this country, please consider one of them as an ambassador for sports and the environment. The world has seen what we are doing, including planting 6,000 trees at Kasarani,” he said.

At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Kenya fielded 52 athletes—28 men and 24 women—finishing fifth overall with 10 medals that included three gold, three silver, and four bronze.

The Tokyo edition runs from September 13 to 21, with more than 2,000 athletes from about 200 nations expected to compete. Kenya will aim to surpass its Budapest tally and solidify its dominance on the global stage.