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Fresh from a dominant performance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Faith Kipyegon urged Kenyan male athletes to elevate their performance, highlighting a significant medal disparity.
Kenya's triumphant athletes, recently returned from a remarkable showing at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, were hosted at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, October 2, 2025. During the celebratory event, middle-distance sensation Faith Kipyegon, who secured a gold medal in the women's 1500m, delivered a light-hearted yet pointed message to her male counterparts, encouraging them to improve their performance.
Kipyegon's remarks came as Kenyan women athletes demonstrated exceptional prowess, clinching six out of the nation's seven gold medals at the championships. In contrast, the men's team secured a single gold medal.
The 2025 World Athletics Championships, held in Tokyo, Japan, from September 13 to September 21, saw Kenya finish second overall in the medal standings. The national team garnered a total of 11 medals: seven gold, two silver, and two bronze. The United States led the medal table with 12 golds.
Faith Kipyegon was a standout performer, securing her fourth world title in the 1500m event. She also earned a silver medal in the 5000m. Other notable gold medalists included Beatrice Chebet, Peres Jepchirchir, Lilian Odira, and Faith Cherotich.
During her address, Kipyegon extended a special vote of thanks to Kenya's Ambassador to Japan, Moi Lemoshira. She credited Ambassador Lemoshira's extraordinary effort in sourcing 'ugali' for Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who went on to win the men's 800m gold medal. Kipyegon playfully suggested that this traditional Kenyan meal was instrumental in Wanyonyi's victory, which was the men's sole gold medal at the championships.
Ambassador Moi Lemoshira presented his Letters of Credence to Emperor Naruhito of Japan on November 7, 2024, officially becoming Kenya's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan. He is a career diplomat who has held several key positions within the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, including serving as Kenya's Ambassador to Algeria from 2015 to 2019.
The government, through President William Ruto, hosted the athletes at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, October 2, 2025, where they were presented with monetary awards as part of a new sports reward scheme. Gold medalists received KSh 3 million, silver medalists KSh 2 million, and bronze medalists KSh 1 million.
Kipyegon's comments have sparked discussions within the athletics community regarding the performance of male athletes and potential strategies to enhance their medal haul in future international competitions. Analysts suggest that such developments could influence public debate and policy execution related to sports development in Kenya.
The focus will now shift to how Athletics Kenya and the Ministry of Sports will address the performance disparity between male and female athletes. Future policy decisions and resource allocation for training and athlete development are likely to be influenced by these discussions.
