World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum was rewarded Kshs 5million by the government for breaking Eliud Kipchoge’s World record at the 37th edition of the Chicago Marathon held in United States.
The 23 year-old who jetted in the country and was received with pomp and color at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by the Ministry of Sports and Athletics Kenya officials and thereafter hosted by the Cabinet secretary for Youth Affairs and Sports, Ababu Namwamba at the Weston hotel in Nairobi.
Kiptum became the second beneficiary of the newly revised reward scheme being implemented by the Kenyan Government which guarantees record breakers with Kshs 5 million cash awards.
“Kiptum is now the second recipient, after Faith Kipyegon, to enjoy the newly revised reward scheme that we are currently implementing as a ministry,” said Ababu.
“It now becomes clearer for any athlete to plan ahead of any race knowing full well what awaits them if they go ahead and break a record or win a medal in the competition, “the CS added.
The CS lauded Kiptum for an amazing race that saw him become the first man to run a sub 2.01 and register a world record of 2.00.35 shattering the previous record held by Kipchoge of 2:01.09 that he set last year in Berlin.
Ababu also conveyed H.E. President William Ruto’s appreciation to Kiptum on his record breaking heroics, assuring him of the Government’s continued support talent development, to build sustainable careers that contribute to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The well attended ceremony was also graced by AK senior vice president Paul Mutwii, AK Youth Development director Barnaba Korir and Elgeyo Marakwet County Sports CECM Purity Koima.
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