President Uhuru Kenyatta (centre) poses for a photo with Team Kenya medallists from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at State House, Nairobi on August 16, 2021.
By PSCU
President Uhuru Kenyatta Monday hosted members of Team Kenya for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games at State House, Nairobi.
Uhuru announced cash rewards of Sh1 million, Sh750,000 and Sh500,000 for Gold, Silver and Bronze medallists respectively.
Among the medallists present were Emmanuel Korir (800m gold), Ferguson Rotich (800m silver), Peres Jepchirchir (marathon gold), Brigid Kosgei (marathon silver), Helen Obiri (5,000m silver), Timothy Cheruiyot (1500m silver), Benjamin Kigen (3,000m steeplechase bronze).
He further announced a uniform token of Shs 200,000 for all athletes and officials, including the Paralympics team, participating in delayed Summer Games.
The President thanked the Olympians for their outstanding performances that saw Kenya top the African medal chart, and challenged the sporting fraternity to ensure the country continues to excel on the global stage.
Uhuru’s token comes a week after Kenyans took to social media to express their disappointmment at Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed about poor reception accorded to marathon great Eliud Kipchoge and other Tokyo Olympics medallists.
There was a huge outcry from Kenyans especially after Uganda’s medalists got red carpet reception from President Yoweri Museveni.
Kenyans wondered why Team Kenya, top in Africa and 19th globally, with four gold, four silver and two bronze medals, would not be accorded same treatment or even better than Uganda who ranked 36th worldwide with only two gold and two bronze medals. – nation.africa.com