State to reward the Rising Lionesses for Dakar Youth Olympics Gold Medal

The government of Kenya has bestowed an impressive Sh250,000 reward on each member of the Rising Lionesses, following their historic gold medal win in team sport at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics. Principal Secretary for Sports Elijah Mwangi praised the team's performance, calling it exceptional and noting that the girls had made history by making the country extremely proud.

The government's decision to reward the team members aligns with the enhanced cash-award scheme for teams as per established guidelines for Youth Olympics.

This marks the first time Kenya's national team competed in the Olympics, and the Rising Lionesses stunned their opponents by winning the gold medal with a final score of 17-12. Team Captain Zain Mohammed highlighted the importance of the Dakar experience for their growth and exposure, as the team's determination to win was evident. She emphasized that it was their honor to represent the country and that they played their best, ultimately securing the gold medal.

The Kenya Rugby Federation President, Harriet Aketch, expressed her pride in the team's achievement and pledged to continue pursuing excellence in sports to have national teams compete at the highest level. She acknowledged the talent demonstrated by the Rising Lionesses, stating that they could progress to top-tier global competitions, including the HSBC Division 1 and the World Champions.

Mwangi urged the Kenya Rugby Federation and other rugby stakeholders to focus on nurturing young talent, emphasizing that the quality of players displayed by the team indicates their potential to rise to the top.