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President William Ruto has called on Kenyans to reject mediocrity and strive for excellence, drawing inspiration from the recent achievements of Kenyan athletes at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The President hosted and rewarded the triumphant team at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday.
President William Ruto on Thursday, October 2, 2025, challenged Kenyans to embrace a culture of excellence, citing the exemplary performance of the nation's athletes at the recent World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Speaking at State House, Nairobi, during a ceremony to fete and reward the returning champions, President Ruto underscored the importance of discipline, hard work, and courage in national development.
“Our athletes remind us that excellence is not given, but earned through sacrifice, discipline, hard work, and courage. This is an achievement that we must celebrate with pride, but more importantly, one that we must emulate as a nation in every other thing that we do,” President Ruto stated.
Kenya concluded the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, held from September 13 to 21, 2025, with an impressive haul of 11 medals, securing a second-place finish globally out of 198 competing nations. The team's medal tally included seven gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. Six of the gold medals were won by women athletes, with one gold going to a male athlete.
Notable gold medalists included Beatrice Chebet (5,000m and 10,000m), Faith Kipyegon (1,500m), Peres Jepchirchir (women's marathon), Lillian Odira (800m), Faith Cherotich (3,000m steeplechase), and Emmanuel Wanyonyi (800m). Faith Kipyegon also secured a silver medal in another event, while Dorcas Ewoi earned a silver in the 1,500m. Bronze medals were claimed by Reynold Cheruiyot (1,500m) and Edmund Serem (men's 3,000m steeplechase).
During the State House ceremony, President Ruto announced a total of KSh 27 million in cash rewards for the medalists. Gold medalists each received KSh 3 million, silver medalists KSh 2 million, and bronze medalists KSh 1 million. This is in addition to the prize money awarded by World Athletics, where gold medalists receive USD 70,000 (approximately KSh 9 million), silver medalists USD 35,000 (approximately KSh 4.5 million), and bronze medalists USD 22,000 (approximately KSh 2.8 million). The total earnings for Kenyan athletes from the Tokyo championships, including World Athletics prize money, amounted to approximately KSh 78 million.
In a further incentive, President Ruto announced that gold medalists would be offered an affordable housing unit of their choice, with the government covering half the cost. The athletes will be responsible for the remaining half, either through direct payment or a mortgage. This initiative mirrors a similar arrangement extended to the Harambee Stars football team following their performance at the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN). President Ruto clarified that these houses are not free handouts, emphasizing that all units must be paid for.
The President's remarks and the government's reward scheme are expected to influence public discourse on national performance and policy implementation. Analysts suggest that the focus on excellence could shape future policy execution, with stakeholders seeking clarity on timelines, costs, and safeguards related to such initiatives.
The success of the Kenyan women athletes, who secured six of the seven gold medals, was particularly highlighted. Faith Kipyegon, a multiple gold medalist, light-heartedly urged her male counterparts to elevate their performance in future competitions.
