Nandi senator Samson Cherargei has called on Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to exempt athletes’ prize money from taxation, arguing that Kenya’s sporting heroes should fully enjoy the rewards of their hard-earned victories.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, the outspoken legislator questioned the heavy taxation imposed on athletes’ earnings, citing the recent success of marathon sensation Sabastian Sawe as an example of why reforms are necessary.
Mr Speaker, can you believe Sabastian Sawe is winning Sh48.5 million in awards, but KRA is taking Sh18 million? KRA should zero-rate.
I want to appeal to KRA not to tax the winnings of our athletes and sportsmen.
Stop taxing Kenyans who are winning; there are Kenyans who are doing tax evasion,” Cherargei said.
The senator maintained that athletes dedicate years of discipline, sacrifice, and intense training to bring glory to the country, and taxing their winnings heavily discourages excellence in sports.
“Can you believe an athlete wins millions only for a huge chunk to go to taxes?” he posed, urging the taxman to shift its focus toward sealing loopholes exploited by tax evaders rather than targeting prize earnings from accomplished sportsmen and women.
Cherargei’s remarks come amid national celebrations following Sawe’s historic feat at the London Marathon, where he stunned the world by becoming the first athlete to run a marathon in under two hours under official competitive race conditions.
The 30-year-old clocked an astonishing 1:59:30, rewriting marathon history and cementing his place among Kenya’s greatest sporting icons.
In recognition of the landmark achievement, President William Ruto hosted Sawe at State House Nairobi, where he hailed the runner’s achievement as a proud moment for Kenya on the global stage.
The President awarded Sawe Sh8 million in incentives, including Sh5 million for breaking the record and Sh3 million for winning the race.
He also gifted the champion a car of his choice, customized with special number plates bearing “01 59 30,” commemorating his record-breaking time.
Cherargei now says the government should go a step further by creating tax incentives that reward athletic excellence, arguing that Kenya’s champions are national assets whose success elevates the country’s international reputation and inspires future generations.
