President William Ruto has announced a Ksh27 million reward package for Kenyan athletes who flew the nation’s flag high at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Speaking during a special breakfast celebration held in honor of the athletes on Thursday, October 2, Ruto confirmed the cash rewards will be distributed based on medal positions:
- Gold medalists – Ksh 3 million each
- Silver medalists – Ksh 2 million each
- Bronze medalists – Ksh 1 million each
Kenya’s Outstanding Performance in Tokyo
Kenya finished second globally in the medal standings after securing a total of 11 medals:
| Medal | Count | Notable Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Gold (7) | 6 women, 1 man | Beatrice Chebet (5,000m & 10,000m), Faith Kipyegon (1,500m), Peres Jepchirchir (Marathon), Lillian Odira (800m), Faith Cherotich (3,000m Steeplechase), Emmanuel Wanyonyi (800m) |
| Silver (2) | Faith Kipyegon, Dorcas Ewoi (1,500m) | |
| Bronze (2) | Reynold Cheruiyot (1,500m), Edmund Serem (3,000m Steeplechase) |
Athletes to Get Affordable Housing Units — With a Catch
Beyond the cash bonuses, President Ruto also revealed that gold medalists will be offered affordable houses under the government housing scheme. However, he clarified that this is not a free gift.
“Let no one claim we are giving out houses for free. The government will pay half, and the athlete will cover the remaining half,” Ruto emphasized.
This model mirrors the arrangement previously offered to Harambee Stars after their performance at the 2024 African Nations Championship.
Global Prize Money Also Boosted Athletes’ Earnings
In addition to government rewards, the Tokyo medalists already earned substantial prize money from World Athletics:
- Gold – USD 70,000 (Ksh 9 million) each
- Silver – USD 35,000 (Ksh 4.5 million) each
- Bronze – USD 22,000 (Ksh 2.8 million) each
In total, Kenyan athletes collectively earned over Ksh78 million from prize payouts alone.
- Gold medals earned USD 490,000 (Ksh 63.3M)
- Silver medals earned USD 70,000 (Ksh 9M)
- Bronze medals earned USD 44,000 (Ksh 5.6M)
Top earners included Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet, both of whom secured multiple medals.
With both government bonuses and international rewards, Kenya’s Tokyo heroes are walking away not only with global glory but also significant financial recognition for their efforts.
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