‘I can finally buy my father a car,’ Teary Faith Kipyegon says after Ksh.5M cash prize from Gov't

Two World Records and a bunch of goodies from the government later, high-flying athlete Faith Kipyegon now says she can finally be able to buy her father a new vehicle.

A teary Kipyegon made the revelation during an address at State House in Nairobi on Tuesday where she was hosted by President William Ruto to celebrate her recent achievements on the track.

Kipyegon broke two World Records in a span of one week at the Diamond League in Florence, Italy and Paris, France; she ran the 1500M in a time of 3:49.11 and the 5000M in 14:05.20.

Following this, President Ruto said the government will henceforth reward any athlete -  beginning with Kipyegon - that breaks a world record with Ksh.5 million in cash.

Kipyegon went on to state that she had promised to gift her elderly father a new vehicle if she broke the world record; a promise she says she will now be able to keep, with the cash prize from the government.

“Thank you so much, Mr. President. I’m so happy with the reward, now I can own a house in Nairobi, and with the money I can say now I can buy my father a car. I promised him that when I broke the World Record that I was going to buy a car for him...now I can fulfil my promise,” said an emotional Kipyegon, in between tears.

The marathon great was, in addition, gifted a new house worth Ksh.6 million located in Nairobi’s Park Road area.