William Ruto Announces Major Pay Rise and Rewards for Kenyan Athletes

President William Ruto has announced major increases in allowances and rewards for Kenyan athletes and officials, alongside new measures to strengthen sports development across the country.

At a ceremony at State House, Nairobi, held in honour of marathon world record holder Sebastian Sawe, Ruto confirmed that athletes representing Kenya abroad will now receive daily allowances of $200, up from $60. Officials will see their stipends rise from $80 to $300. In Kenyan shillings, this equates to Ksh25,840 for athletes and Ksh38,760 for officials.

The president also unveiled a revised reward system for medal winners. Gold medallists in athletics will earn Ksh3 million, silver medallists Ksh2 million, and bronze medallists Ksh1 million. At the Commonwealth Games, gold winners will receive Ksh2.5 million, silver Ksh1.5 million, and bronze Ksh1 million. Previously, gold winners received Ksh1 million, silver Ksh750,000, and bronze Ksh500,000.

In addition to financial incentives, Ruto announced the creation of Constituency Sports Academies to support grassroots talent and provide access to modern facilities. He also highlighted the forthcoming Sports Bill 2026, which proposes the establishment of a National Sports Regulatory Authority to improve governance and accountability in the sector.

Sebastian Sawe became the first athlete to benefit from the new framework, receiving cheques totalling Ksh8 million for his record-breaking marathon run. He was also presented with a customised Kenyan number plate inscribed “1:59:30” to mark his achievement as the first man to officially run under two hours.