L. MathekaWorld beaters promised huge rewards as President Ruto recognises Kipyegon
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 13.06.23. | 11:25
The Head of State has instructed the immigration department to provide elite athletes with Diplomatic passports to aide in their travel
President William Ruto has on Tuesday 13 June announced that every athlete who breaks a world record will be awarded Ksh 5 million for their exploits.
The President was speaking at State House as he hosted double world record breaker Faith Kipyegon who broke the record in 1500m and 5000m within a week in the Diamond League series.
Kipyegon was awarded Ksh 5,000,000 for the 1500m World record and a fully furnished 3-bedroomed house for the 5000m world record, by the President as he promised this would be the norm for any other world beaters.
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“I have asked the ministry to review the reward scheme so we can recognize and reward our sports people appropriately. Going forward, any Kenyan who breaks a world record will be awarded Ksh 5 million. We start with Faith with a total of Ksh 5 million for one record and a house worth Ksh 6 million for the other.
It will be the same for all the other world record breakers that come after her. This will ensure our young men and women can be motivated. We already have the talent that can break any world record. We will support all our athletes and reward them for their exploits as we continue to monetize our sports industry,” the President offered.
Faith Kipyegon and family in Nairobi to meet the Head of State following her world record breaking feat. Faith broke two records within a space of seven days. pic.twitter.com/TsVzdlmft1
— Athletics Kenya (@athletics_kenya) June 13, 2023
He continued, “We celebrate the historic two records set by Faith in a span of one week. I hosted her and her family to recognize and celebrate what she has done for the country. She stands as a shinning model of consistency, discipline, hard work as well as family. She is a great Kenyan woman, a wife, a mother and a world champion all rolled in one.”
One week after smashing the 1500m world record, Kipyegon has set another record in 5000m, clocking 14:05.20 after a terrific duel with Letesenbet Gidey (the world record holder before Friday 9 June) at the Paris Diamond League.
Other awarded are African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala who was awarded Ksh 2 million for his exploits that have popularized sprints in the country.
