President William Ruto has announced a major new policy to support Kenyan athletes, revealing that 500 sportsmen and women will be recruited into the country’s disciplined forces to provide them with effective training, equipment, and financial stability.
The President made the announcement while hosting the triumphant Kenyan team from the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo for a breakfast at State House.
The national recruitment drive for athletes is structured to allocate positions across several key disciplined forces. The largest contingent of new recruits will join the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), which is slated to recruit 200 athletes. Following this, the National Police Service (NPS) will bring in 150 athletes.
The remaining 150 athlete positions will be distributed among the Kenya Prisons Service, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and the National Youth Service (NYS)
President Ruto emphasized that this measure will help position Kenya as a global sports powerhouse by giving athletes a strong base from which to train and continue raising the standard of sports in the country.
The President heaped praise on the team for their performance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where they secured 11 medals (7 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze) and finished second overall to the United States.
“Out of 198 nations in the world, we were second best after the United States. That is the league we play in, the league of champions and excellence,” he stated.
In recognition of the athletes’ achievements, President Ruto announced a disbursement of KSh 27 million to the medallists, aligning with his directive on cash rewards.
According to this structure, Gold Medallists will each receive KSh 3 million, Silver Medallists are entitled to KSh 2 million apiece, and Bronze Medallists will be rewarded with KSh 1 million each.
Additionally, the government will pay half the cost of an affordable house of choice for every medallist.
Addressing concerns about integrity in sports, the President instructed the relevant ministry to reorganize the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) to inject professionalism and align it with international standards, ensuring the integrity of Kenyan sport. He also reiterated that funds from the Sports Fund will be dedicated strictly to sports development.
President Ruto used the occasion to appeal to all Kenyans to aspire for excellence, not mediocrity, noting that the nation is destined for greatness.
He affirmed his commitment to leading reforms across key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, education, and health, citing progress in transforming the economy and stabilizing inflation.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Sports CS Salim Mvurya also celebrated the athletes, with Mvurya assuring the team that the government has stepped up efforts to address past welfare concerns, ensuring issues like inadequate accommodation are now “issues of the past.” Gold and silver medallist Faith Kipyegon thanked the government for its full support.
