Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy & Sports, Salim Mvurya, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, presided over a reception in Nairobi to honor Kenyan athletics stars Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet.
The two athletes were lauded for their historic achievements at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, where they both shattered world records in their respective disciplines.
Each athlete was presented with a KES 5 million award in recognition of their exceptional performances.
During the event held at Talanta Plaza offices, CS Mvurya commended Kipyegon and Chebet as game changers and national treasures, emphasizing their role in redefining the sport globally and inspiring many young girls.
“I had the distinct honor of welcoming Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, and a host of our elite athletes to Talanta Plaza, true heroes and heroines who have once again made history, lifted our spirits, and brought immense pride to our nation, this morning.”
“On behalf of the Government of Kenya, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to these remarkable athletes and the entire Kenyan contingent for their outstanding performances,” Mvurya said.
The awards align with a policy initiated by President William Ruto's government, which pledged KES 5 million for every world record broken by a Kenyan athlete.
This policy was first announced by President Ruto on June 13, 2023, during a reception for Faith Kipyegon at State House, where she was also awarded for previous world records, including a house for one of her feats.
Beatrice Chebet etched her name into history at the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday, July 5, 2025, by becoming the first woman ever to complete the 5000m race in under 14 minutes.
She set a new world record with an astounding time of 13:58.06, surpassing the previous mark of 14:00.21 held by Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay. Chebet also holds the world record in the 10,000m, set last year.
Hours later at the same Eugene meet, Faith Kipyegon continued her dominance in middle-distance running, breaking her own world record in the women's 1500m.
Kipyegon clocked an incredible 3:48.68, shaving 0.36 seconds off her previous record of 3:49.04, which she had set in Paris in July of the previous year. This marks her third time establishing a new world record in the 1500m.
During the reception event, CS Mvurya also announced revised reward packages for athletes winning medals at major international competitions.
Gold medalists at the Olympics and Paralympics will now receive KES 3 million, silver medalists KES 2 million, and bronze medalists KES 1 million, representing a significant increase in incentives aimed at further boosting Kenya's performance on the global stage.
Comments 0
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!