President William Ruto on Thursday lauded the national team that represented Kenya at the just concluded World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, during a breakfast meeting at State House, Nairobi.
He announced that the government cash reward for the medallists from the Tokyo event, totalling Sh27 million, has already been deposited in their accounts.
Ruto added that the government will pay half the cost of an affordable house of choice for the seven gold medallists.
"We promised to pay gold medallists Sh3 million, Sh2 million for the silver medallists, and Sh1 million for the bronze medallists, and that has been deposited into the medallists’ accounts because we promised and we have implemented as a government.
"We are not dishing out houses freely, but we have to pay because we must strictly adhere to the rules, and no one is getting anything for free. The government of Kenya is paying the other half of the amount, and the athlete will clear the balance just as we did with the footballers after the Chan (African Nations Championships)," he said.
Kenya finished second on the medal table, behind the giants USA. Kenya also wrote history at the championships by becoming the first nation to sweep all gold medals from 800m to marathon in one edition.
Double world champion in women’s 5,000m and 10,000m Beatrice Chebet has received Sh6 million, while Faith Kipyegon got Sh5 million for her gold in the women’s 1,500m and a silver in the women’s 5,000m.
Gold medallists Faith Cherotich (women’s 3,000m steeplechase), Lilian Odira (women’s 800m), Emmanuel Wanyonyi (men’s 800m) and Peres Jepchichir (women’s marathon) are the other Sh3m beneficiaries.
Dorcus Ewoi, who bagged a silver medal in the women’s 1,500m, was rewarded with Sh2m while Reynold Cheruiyot (men’s 1,500m) and Edmund Serem (men’s 3,000m steeplechase) got Sh1m each.
Ruto said that the brilliant performance witnessed at the global event by Team Kenya should be emulated across the country.
"It is not an easy feat to achieve and coming in second best in the world is not easy, and we celebrate our athletes. We should all aspire for excellence and emulate our athletes who carried our flag high at the just concluded championships," said Ruto.
The President noted that Kenya has always led the world in performing well across the world in various sporting events, which is a reminder that they are not merely participating but are there to compete and do well.
"Greatness is our heritage and mediocrity has no space in our country. Average does not raise a flag but excellence and greatness will raise the flag and make us proud as a country," he added.
Ruto said that the immediate measures in the foreign allowance were some of the things implemented when the athletes left for the championships.
He added that as Kenyans celebrate their performance, discipline and resilience, it inspires every citizen to do their best.
