Kenya rolled out the red carpet for its newest marathon hero, with Sebastian Sawe receiving a grand State House welcome and a multi-million reward package following his historic run in London.
Sawe, who stunned the world at the London Marathon, was hosted by President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, April 30, in a ceremony that underscored the magnitude of his achievement.
The government awarded the 31-year-old a total of KSh 8 million. Of this, KSh 5 million was in recognition of his world record-breaking performance, while an additional KSh 3 million was presented for winning gold for Kenya on the global stage.
In a symbolic gesture, President Ruto also handed Sawe a customised number plate bearing the historic time “1:59:30” , the mark that saw him become the first man to run an official marathon under two hours.
The Head of State further announced that the athlete will receive a vehicle to mount the special plates.
“This young man, Sebastian, has done something very important. I gave him a number plate, but he’s wondering where he’ll put it. I asked him, and he said his car already has a number plate, so where will he put this one? Sebastian, I will buy you a car,” Ruto announced.
Speaking during the event,Ruto hailed Sawe for breaking the record in London, saying the achievement is a defining moment in the history of human endurance.
“What our very own Sebastian Sawe achieved last weekend on the streets of London – by running a marathon in under two hours is not merely a sporting triumph; it is a defining moment in the story of human endurance,” Ruto said.
The reception reflected national pride in Sawe’s feat, which has not only rewritten marathon history but also reinforced Kenya’s dominance in long-distance running.
His performance continues to draw global attention, with the government’s reward package signalling strong state backing for sporting excellence.