The celebrated middle-distance runner earned this impressive package by breaking two world records: the 1500m world record at the 2023 Wanda Diamond League and the women’s 5,000 meters world record during the Paris Diamond League event.

During a press conference held at the State House in Nairobi, President William Ruto made the announcement, expressing the government’s commitment to supporting and rewarding athletes who achieve such remarkable feats.

Ruto emphasized the government’s new initiative to honor world record breakers, acknowledging that these achievements were previously overlooked. He announced that for every world record broken by a Kenyan athlete, the government will award Sh5 million. To commence this initiative, Faith Kipyegon was awarded a total of five million for one record and a house worth Sh6 million for the other.

Ruto underscored the significance of motivating and supporting athletes, highlighting the wealth of talent within Kenya and the potential for breaking more world records. The government pledged to work closely with athletes, providing support and appropriate rewards.

The President stated, “We have the pool of talented resources in Kenya that can break any record, and going forward, we’re going to work with our athletes and support them, and beyond supporting them, reward them appropriately.”

Ruto also emphasized the broader initiative of monetizing sports and creative industries in Kenya. He recognized the economic potential in these areas and acknowledged the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices made by individuals involved.

During the award ceremony, Faith Kipyegon expressed her overwhelming joy and gratitude to the President, the Kenyan Government, and her fellow Kenyans for their support. She expressed her excitement and appreciation for the rewards, which have enabled her to fulfill a promise she made to her father to buy him a vehicle.

With heartfelt emotions, Kipyegon said, “Thank you so much Mr. President, I am so happy with the reward. Now I can own a house in Nairobi…I was not expecting this, to tell the truth. And with the money, I can now say I can buy my father. I promised him when I was going to break the world record that I was going to buy a car for him. So now I can fulfill my promise. Thank you so much.”

“This is amazing. I dedicate this world record to all mothers and knowing that everything is possible. I told them already, going on maternity leave and coming back, you will be stronger than before. And this is what I’ve shown them, that everything is possible,” Kipyegon said after the race.

Kipyegon gave birth in 2018 after nursing anxiety about her athletics career and a desire to start her own family. She told Runner’s World that the two sides of her life weighed heavily on her because she feared losing out on financial and competitive opportunities in her career.

“I was so afraid. Maybe I would not come back, I would just disappear. Every lady, their mind goes like that. But I was very strong-minded. I said ‘Let me do this.’ It’s the joy of every human being to start a family” she said.

She went on to tell RW that she was happy when the doctors confirmed her pregnancy but later went on to have a stressful delivery because her baby was in breach and she had to undergo a cesarean section surgery. She gave birth to a daughter whom she named Alyn.

“Beginning in 2017, I had a new goal of becoming a mother. I was mentally prepared to take the break knowing that I could only come back stronger. It was hard, and my body was different. But my new purpose is Alyn, and the strength she gives me mentally has helped me overcome all of the challenges,” Kipyegon said in a pinned social media post dedicated to her daughter.

“I want to motivate her to be what she wants to be in life. She wants to be a champion like her mother, and I wish her to follow her heart, and go beyond my footsteps,” she said.

After her maternity leave Kipyegon made a comeback a year later. Kipyegon is a double Olympic champion (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020) and also a double world champion (2017 and 2022).