President William Ruto has announced that 500 slots in the ongoing recruitment into Kenya’s disciplined services will be reserved for sportsmen and women.

Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday during a breakfast meeting with athletes who competed in Tokyo, the President said the move was designed to give athletes both a stable career and a platform to serve the country.

Breakdown of Opportunities

Ruto revealed that 200 athletes will be absorbed into the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), while 150 others will join the National Police Service (NPS).

“I have discussed with the CDF, and in the recruitment that is going on now, 200 sportsmen and women will be hired into the military. The IG has also confirmed to me that 150 sportsmen and women will be hired into the NPS,” he said.

He added that talks were underway with the Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and the National Youth Service (NYS) to accommodate more athletes in the future.

Building on Tradition

The President said the disciplined services had long played a key role in nurturing sporting talent, offering athletes both jobs and world-class training grounds.

“We must build on that tradition by expanding opportunities so that more young people with talent can find both a livelihood and a platform to showcase their abilities,” Ruto noted.

He stressed that the idea was to provide a strong foundation for athletes while allowing them to continue excelling in their disciplines.

Rewards and Support

During the event, Ruto presented cash rewards to the 11 medal winners at the recent World Athletics Championships.

He also announced that the government would support the seven medalists in purchasing homes, offering to pay half the cost of houses in locations of their choice.

“You choose the house, we pay for you half, you pay another half,” Ruto explained, clarifying that the arrangement was not a free handout but a cost-sharing initiative.

The President reiterated his government’s commitment to investing in infrastructure, training facilities, and structured support programmes, saying athletics had brought Kenya international glory and must be strengthened as a career path.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and Sports CS Salim Mvurya were among those present at the event.