President William Ruto has gifted men’s world marathon record holder Sabastian Sawe Sh8 million and pledged to buy him a car of his choice following his extraordinary feat at the London Marathon last weekend.
On April 26, Sawe charged into the history books as the first man on the planet to break the two-hour barrier in a full marathon under official race conditions, clocking 1:59:30 to successfully defend his London crown.
Sawe unleashed a finishing surge to outkick Ethiopian star Yomif Kejelcha, who also shattered the barrier in 1:59:41 on his marathon debut, while Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo completed a breathtaking podium sweep in 2:00:28.
In recognition of the monumental performance on the streets of London, President Ruto awarded Sawe Sh8 million, with Sh5 million for breaking the world record and Sh3 million for his golden triumph in line with the government’s revised athlete reward structure.
Ruto also presented customised number plates bearing Sawe’s London-winning time, 1 59 30, before going a step further with another grand gesture. “These number plates are for a car. But Sawe has told me his car already has a number plate, so he asked where he would put the new plates.”
“You will choose a car of your choice, and I will buy it for you,” President Ruto said. The government promise came days after a huge payday for Sawe for winning and breaking the world record in London.
Sawe is set to earn over $1 million (Sh129.2 million) total from his historic 2026 London Marathon win, including a direct $355,000 (Sh45.9 million) from prize money and performance bonuses, plus additional Adidas contractual bonuses.
His earnings stem from winning ($55,000 – Sh7.1 million), a sub-2:02:00 time bonus ($150,000 – Sh19.4 million), a world record bonus ($125,000 – Sh16.1 million) and a course record bonus ($25,000 – Sh3.2 million).
The latest award from the government also comes after quadruple world 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon was also awarded with Sh5 million for breaking the 1,500m record, as well as a house worth Sh6 million last year.
Ruto further hailed Sawe’s astonishing run as yet another benchmark of Kenya’s long-standing dominance in global distance running. “What Sebastian has achieved, running a marathon under two hours, confirms Kenya’s place as the origin of wonder,” President Ruto said.
“If there was any doubt in anybody’s mind about magical Kenya and about the origin of wonder, Sebastian has put it with clarity.”
For the past 15 years, the men’s marathon world record has been broken exclusively by Kenyan athletes, underlining the nation’s grip on the blue-riband road race. The Head of State underscored the scale of Sawe’s feat, describing it as one of those rare moments that transcend sport.
“Moments such as these are exceedingly rare. They come, perhaps, once in a generation; sometimes only once in a lifetime. “What our very own Sawe achieved last weekend on the streets of London is not merely a sporting triumph; it is a defining moment in the story of human endurance.”
“Sebastian, you have not only broken a record, but you have expanded the horizon of human potential.”
Ruto went further, likening Sawe’s triumph to some of history’s greatest breakthroughs. “To grasp the magnitude of this achievement, we must place it alongside the great milestones of human history: when Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969, and when Roger Bannister shattered the four-minute mile on May 6, 1954, an accomplishment once believed to be beyond human limits.”
Ruto said Sawe’s place in history is now secure both in Kenya and across the world. “Future generations will look back on April 26, 2026, as the day a man broke through a physical and psychological barrier long thought insurmountable; and the name forever attached to that moment will be Sebastian Sawe.
“We are truly privileged to have lived in this moment; to have witnessed history not only as a distant memory, but also as a present reality,” he added.
The President also saluted Sawe’s rivals, saying their fierce challenge helped fuel the record-breaking pace. “Our friends from Ethiopia (Kejelcha) and Uganda (Kiplimo), we thank you for putting up stiff competition for Sebastian to make history,” he said.
Sawe, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for the hero’s welcome he received at the State House. “I am grateful for this warm reception and I thank you,” Sawe said. He added that the record run was driven by a desire to elevate Kenya’s name even higher on the world stage. “What I did in London, I did for all Kenyans to keep the country’s name on top globally,” he noted.
The marathon king vowed there is still more to come. “I will continue to do my best to fly the nation’s flag high. I will not let you down,” he said.
Sports CS Salim Mvurya thanked the President for the grand reception bestowed upon Sawe. “Today is a memorable occasion. I thank you Mr President for the high-level reception of our hero. It demonstrates your leadership in inspiring the talent of the youth in the country,” Mvurya said.
Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei believes London’s record breaking run is only the beginning for Sawe. “No other human being in the world, in the history of the marathon, has ever run under two hours. He (Sawe) is the first one. “We are very proud of him and we are sure he will do much more,” Tuwei said.
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