Sports Cabinet Secretary, Ababu Namwamba, on Tuesday, May 9, intimated that plans were in place to increase the payment to athletes who fly the Kenyan flag on the international stage.
Speaking at the Kenyan cultural centre in Nairobi, the CS affirmed that the athletes would enjoy better rewards as part of the new revamped system.
He sampled upcoming international events whereby notable and renowned athletes such as Olympic champion and marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala, and World 5,000 metres champion Hellen Obiri among others will participate.
"We have revised the rates of rewarding our athletes. I know you have been receiving some rewards while preparing to go to the Championships in Hungary in August and the Olympics next year."
"We have made a total overhaul of the reward framework and will be announcing the new framework and it will be an attractive framework," he stated.
At the same time, the CS equally presented a cheque worth Ksh320,000 to Athletics Kenya for the 2023 Kip Keino Classic slated for May 13, 2023.
Currently, the government awards Ksh1 million to gold medallists at significant world competitions, Ksh750,000 to the silver medallists and Ksh500,000 to athletes who scoop bronze.
While appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Sports, Culture and Tourism on April 18, 2023, Sports Principal Jonathan Mueke affirmed that a task force was formed to develop a new scheme for rewarding their athletes.
He noted that the current system is outdated as compared with other countries. Once drafted, the PS pointed out that the new system would be subject to public participation before adoption.
“Once we come up with a good draft, we will seek the indulgence of your committee, so that we can get the input of Parliament on this.
"We can come up with a policy on cash awards for the men and women, who make our country proud globally by winning elite international competitions," he stated.
