President William Ruto has awarded 2024 Paris Olympic Games medalists with cash rewards following their outing at the glóbál showpiece in France.
President Ruto awarded the athlete during a breakfast meeting held at the Eldoret State Lodge on Thursday, August 15, 2024.
According to the dummy cheques displayed during the awarding ceremony, each Paris Olympic Games gold medallists walked home with Ksh3 million for each medal, Ksh2 million for silver, and Ksh1 million for bronze medal.
Beatrice Chebet, who won two gold medals in 5,000m and 10,000m, received a total of Ksh6 million.
Faith Kipyegon also received Ksh3 million for winning a gold medal in the 1500m race, the same as Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who dazzled the world by clinching gold in the 800m.
In total, Kipyegon received Ksh5 million, as Ksh2 million was reserved for athletes who bagged silver medals during the Olympic games.
The triple Olympic champion won silver in the 5000m women’s race, which was marred by controversy following her disqualification for shoving Ethiopian athlete Tsegay Gudaf. After a successful appeal by Kenyan officials, her second place was reinstated.
Other athletes feted
Ronald Kwemoi, who delivered an impressive performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning the silver medal in the men’s 5,000 meters event, received Ksh2 million from the Héád of State.
Benson Kipruto, who emerged third in the men’s marathon; Abraham Kibiwot, who bagged bronze in the men’s 3000m steeplechase; and Mary Moraa, who secured a bronze medal in the women’s 800 meters, received Ksh1 million from the government.
Ruto’s earlier promise
In June 2023, President William Ruto promised generous rewards for Kenyan athletes breaking world records, pledging Ksh5 million for each achievement.
Ruto made the promise while hosting Kipyegon, who broke two world records in 8 days running in 3:49.11 in the Florence Diamond League to smash Genzebe Dibaba’s previous world record of 3:50.07 set in 2015 before shattering 2020 Letesnetbet Gidey’s 5000M world record of 14:06.62, setting a new world record of 14:5.20 in the Paris Diamond League.
“In our new plan to appreciate our gifted achievers in sports and the creative arts, a world record breaker will be rewarded with Ksh5 million and be considered for a diplomatic passport and other national honors,” stated then.
