Beat Zambia, bag millions: Ruto’s Sh2.5m promise to Harambee Stars
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President William Ruto with Team Kenya that will represent the country at the 2025 World Athletics Championships scheduled for September 13 to 21, September 3, 2025. /PCS
The government has reviewed rewards for sportsmen and women to motivate and appreciate their patriotism in representing Kenya on the global stage, President William Ruto has announced.
He made the announcement Wednesday evening when he handed over the Kenyan flag to the national athletics team that will represent the country at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The handover ceremony at State House, Nairobi, comes just 10 days before the 2025 World Athletics Championships scheduled for September 13 to 21.
More than 2,000 athletes from about 200 countries are expected to participate in the competition.
Drawing from the recent unprecedented reward to the national football team, Harambee Stars, following their impressive run at the just-concluded African Nations Championship (CHAN), Ruto said the government is determined to ensure that all sportsmen and women are generously appreciated.
"You remember that initially if you won gold, you would get Sh750,000. We have reviewed that now that any gold medalist, as you come back from Tokyo, we are now going to give them a reward of Sh3 million," Ruto said to loud applause.
Silver medalists will now receive Sh2 million, up from Sh500,000, while bronze medalists will pocket Sh1 million, up from Sh350,000.
The President also unveiled a new reward package for the Commonwealth Games, with Sh2.5 million for gold medalists (up from Sh500,000), Sh1.5 million for silver (up from Sh300,000), and Sh1 million for bronze (up from Sh200,000).
"The ministry is going to review other packages to ensure that we encourage the sporting spirit in Kenya," Ruto added.
President William Ruto addresses Team Kenya that will represent the country at the 2025 World Athletics Championships scheduled for September 13 to 21, State House, September 3, 2025. /PCSHe emphasised that the government is keen to support athletes because they are Kenya's biggest ambassadors on the global stage.
"I did recommend that we need to review even the allowances that you are paid," Ruto said.
At present, each athlete receives $60 (Sh7,740) per day. The President directed that this be increased.
"We should change so that we pay them $200 (Sh25,800) per day." Ruto instructed Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya to ensure the new allowances take effect during the Tokyo competition.
"You know these people; before they come here, they have gone through hell. Very early mornings, very late evenings, and a lot of things in between, so my instruction is that we do the pay from $60 to $200 and for officials we can improve it to $300 (Sh38,700) per day.
"So utapanga hawa watu kabla hawajaondoka [make arrangements for these people before they depart]," Ruto directed the CS.
Ruto’s earlier gesture of awarding Harambee Stars players Sh1 million for every win and Sh500,000 for a draw has been credited with motivating the team to deliver outstanding results at CHAN, despite being debutants in the so-called “group of death.”
The team stunned the now three-time champions Morocco, two-time winners DR Congo, and former AFCON champions Zambia, and drew with Angola, before bowing out to Madagascar through post-match penalties in the round of 16.
