Kenya’s Golden Runners Earn Ksh104 Million in Prize Money and Govt Bonuses

Kenya’s athletics contingent delivered a world-class performance at the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships, finishing second on the medal standings only to America. In nine nail-biting days, the athletes harvested 11 medals – seven of them gold, two silver, and two bronze – to settle Kenya among the sporting elite of the world.

Their heroics not only earned national pride but also handsome amounts of cash.

Millions Earned on the Global Stage

Kenyan stars earned a combined USD 604,000 (about Ksh77.6 million) in prize money from World Athletics. Using the federation’s announced official prize list, each gold medal winner took home USD 70,000 (Ksh9 million), silver winners each earned USD 35,000 (Ksh4.5 million), and bronze medallists earned USD 22,000 (Ksh2.8 million).

The medal charge began when Beatrice Chebet stunned the world by winning the women’s 10,000m in dramatic fashion. Peres Jepchirchir captured the women’s marathon gold, then Faith Cherotich claimed the 3000m steeplechase. Faith Kipyegon, predictably, dominated the women’s 1500m final to produce another Kenyan gold.

Chebet returned to capture the women’s 5000m title, with Emmanuel Wanyonyi racing to the gold in the men’s 800m.

Kenya also garnered silver medals, with Kipyegon finishing second in the 5000m and Dorcus Ewoi placing just behind her in the 1500m final.

The men’s team contributed the two bronzes as Reynold Cheruiyot was third in the 1500m and Edmund Serem bronze in the 3000m steeplechase.

The Prize Breakdown

From these podium positions, Kenya earned Ksh63.3 million from gold, Ksh9 million from silver, and Ksh5.6 million from bronze – amounting to Ksh77.6 million in prize money. Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet, who collected multiple medals, were among the biggest individual winners.

Boost From Government Rewards

Beyond international payouts, the government has offered hefty incentives under a new program unveiled by Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya in August. Olympic and Paralympic gold medal winners now earn Ksh3 million (up from Ksh750,000), silver medal winners earn Ksh2 million (up from Ksh500,000), and bronze medal winners earn Ksh1 million (up from Ksh350,000) under the new framework.

This means Kenya’s 2025 World Championships heroes will take home another Ksh27 million from the government – Ksh21 million in gold, Ksh4 million in silver, and Ksh2 million in bronze.

In total, Kenya’s medal haul at the 2025 World Athletics Championships will bring home an incredible Ksh104.6 million in combined prize money and government bonuses.

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