NAIROBI, Kenya, December 17- Double world champion and London Olympics silver and bronze winner, Vivian Cheruiyot, claims she is yet to be paid promised Government rewards for her exploits in Daegu, South Korea, last year.
Cheruiyot, who made history by becoming the first Kenyan woman to win the 5000m and 10000m gold medals, told Capital Sport that she and four other medallists from South Korea were yet to receive their dues.
“We have made a number of trips to the Sports Ministry and up to now, I have not been paid and I’m wondering what is going on,” the Olympics 5000m silver winner and 10000m bronze medallist added.
Cheruiyot is owed Sh600,000 ($7,059) for her two gold medals from Daegu with women’s marathon champion, Edna Kiplagat and silver winner, Priscah Jeptoo, who also won the second medal in London among the elite runners yet to receive their pay-out.
“Vivian and her husband were in out offices inquiring about the money,” Commissioner for Sport, Gordon Olouch, acknowledged to Capital Sport when reached for comment.
“Our electronic financial within the ministry collapsed delaying payments for up to five weeks and when it was resolved, that at the finance Ministry also went down.
“I will look into those who have not been paid and once I have established who they are, we will settle the matter as soon as possible,” Oluoch pledged.
The Commissioner added that problems in transferring the funds electronically to the beneficiaries could also be hampered by registration of names different from those in identification documents.
“If two names or different spelling from the three names in national identity cards or passports are entered to the system, it will automatically reject the payment request and this comes back to us and we shall contact those yet to be paid to clarify whether they sent in their correct details,” Oluoch explained.
The Government pledged Sh300,000 ($3,529) for gold, Sh200,000 ($2,353) for silver and bronze medallist pocketing Sh100,000 ($1,176) and finalists receiving Sh10,000 ($117.6) each.
