The Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Creative Economy and Sports, through Cabinet Secretary Hon. Salim Mvurya, has unveiled a comprehensive enhanced support package for elite athletes and sports professionals.

The bold new framework, announced on July 8, 2025, aims to significantly boost performance, motivation, and career sustainability for the nation’s top talent.

The initiative, rooted in the recently reviewed National Sports Policy and approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in April 2025, seeks to align athlete compensation with modern living standards and global sporting demands.

Key components of the revised package include increased financial incentives, upgraded access to modern training facilities, structured wellness and mental health support, and more streamlined international competition logistics.

“Our athletes continue to elevate Kenya’s global profile through unmatched excellence. As a Government, we are not just clapping for them, we are investing in them,” CS Mvurya stated during a briefing at Talanta Plaza.

He emphasized that the enhanced packages would not only benefit current stars but also lay the groundwork for future talent through investments in infrastructure, academies, and mentorship.

A cornerstone of the new scheme is a substantial increase in cash rewards for medal winners. Gold medalists at the Olympic and Paralympic Games will now receive KES 3 million, a significant jump from KES 750,000. Silver medalists will be awarded KES 2 million (up from KES 500,000), and bronze medalists KES 1 million (up from KES 350,000).

For the Commonwealth Games, gold medal winners will now receive KES 2.5 million (from KES 500,000), silver medalists KES 1.5 million (from KES 300,000), and bronze medalists KES 1 million (from KES 200,000).

Furthermore, the government has allocated KES 70 million to compensate athletes previously overlooked or not formally recognized in past competitions, a move described as a “corrective and symbolic gesture” by CS Mvurya, signaling a new era of fairness and inclusivity.

The revamped package also includes expanded medical coverage, scholarship pathways, and stronger partnerships with federations to ensure accountability and transparency.