President William Ruto has revealed how he saved Kenya from being banned by World Athletics from participating in sports.
The head of state directed the Sports ministry to change the reward system for sportsmen and women who make the country proud in international competitions.
Speaking during the burial of World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum at Chepkorio village in Elgeyo Markwet on Friday, Ruto said the country had been earmarked for ban.
"When we came in in 2022, Kenya was at risk of being banned by World Athletics. We were candidates for being banned for matters doping," the President said.
Ruto said he invited the president of World Athletics and sought to know what his administration was required to do to save the country.
"He told me we need to set aside funds every year to make sure that we deal with the problem of doping," he said.
Since 2022, he said, the government has been setting aside at least Sh500 million to deal with the doping menace that nearly consumed athletics and ruined the future of many athletes.
While paying glowing tribute to Kiptum, the head of state instructed Sports CS Ababu Namwamba to work on the reward system for sportsmen and women.
"We are going to adjust our reward system so that it is not just money for today but also part of it can be put in a pension scheme for the future," he said.
The President said the government gave Sh5 million to Kiptum’s family.
Ruto mourned Kiptum as a determined, hardworking and disciplined young athlete who rose from a humble background to become the World Marathon record holder.
"Kiptum stood out not only as an athlete but more importantly as a good person. He was ambitious, disciplined and focused," the President said.
"I want to tell our athletes you are blessed for your hard work. Don’t allow doping ruin your success. Emulate Kiptum because he won clean."
The President said his administration has ringfenced the sports funds that was established in 2015.
According to the head of state, the previous administration continuously diverted cash from the fund, abandoning sports for which it was created.
"Unfortunately, 60 per cent of the funds were taken to do other things. We have reverted sports funds to deal with only sports," he said.
The burial was attended by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Cabinet secretaries, governors, athletes, Kenya and World Athletics officials, among others.
CS Namwamba said Kiptum was a champion of anti-doping. He said the country had lost a promising and talented athlete.
"Kiptum was like my son because we engaged up close. He was a champion of anti-doping and just the other day, his victory was ratified as clean by World Athletics," he said.
"Kiptumo has unified our country in death and in life," he said as he read the tributes by the President, Deputy President, Prime Cabinet Secretary and all Cabinet secretaries.
