Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has asked the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Revenue Authority, to review how it taxes prize money earned by Kenyan athletes. He said sportsmen and women who win international competitions should not face heavy tax deductions on their hard-earned prize money.
Speaking in the Senate on Thursday, Cherargei raised concern over the earnings of marathon champion Sebastian Sawe following his recent success.
According to the senator, Sawe earned about Ksh 48.5 million in awards, but nearly Ksh 18 million is expected to be deducted as tax.
Cherargei said this was unfair and could discourage athletes who work hard to raise Kenya’s flag on the global stage.
He argued that prize money from sports should either be exempt from tax or placed under a zero-rated system. According to him, athletes should be rewarded fully for their efforts instead of losing a large part of their winnings to tax deductions.
Cherargei told the Senate that many athletes train for years, sacrifice a lot, and represent Kenya with pride. He said the government should protect them and motivate them instead of creating extra financial pressure.
He also pointed out that while some people avoid paying taxes completely, athletes who honestly earn through competition are being heavily taxed.
His remarks came as the country continued to celebrate Sawe’s impressive performance at the London Marathon.
The athlete was honoured by President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi after what many described as a historic achievement.
President Ruto awarded Sawe a total of Ksh 8 million as part of the recognition. This included Ksh 5 million for breaking a record and another Ksh 3 million for finishing first in the international race.
The President praised him for making the country proud and showing the world the strength of Kenyan athletes.
Sawe was received in a special ceremony at State House after arriving in Nairobi.
He was picked up in a presidential vehicle and arrived carrying the Kenyan flag, which he later handed to the President as a symbol of patriotism and national pride.
To crown the celebration, President Ruto also gifted Sawe a car of his choice with customised number plates reading “01 59 30,” marking his record-breaking performance and adding a special memory to his victory.
