Government ends double taxation on athletes prize money

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has declared the cessation of double taxation for Kenyan athletes. In a press briefing preceding the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, CS Namwamba disclosed that this resolution stemmed from consultations with the Kenya Revenue Authority.

Namwamba explained that during the meeting, they developed a framework to protect Kenyan athletes competing in international events from double taxation.

He highlighted that the decision to abolish the double taxation system was prompted by concerns raised by the athletes, prompting government action in response.

“The issue of double taxation, our athletes have always raised a concern that when they win their earnings in foreign lands, they pay taxes at source. I am delighted to announce that we have been working on a framework to shield our athletes from double taxation and we have struck a deal with the KRA and treasury.” he stated.

Moving forward, athletes will only be subjected to taxation only once, a deduction which will be made at the source of the funds.

The changes come against the backdrop of the upcoming Paris Olympics scheduled to take place from July 26, 2024 and August 11, 2024. Kenya’s National Olympics Committee recently announced that it had employed a multi-sectoral approach to prepare Team Kenya for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“We have put together two important committees, the training and preparations who are the people in charge of putting together the athletes and ensuring they are training,” stated Team Kenya CEO to the Paris Olympics Wanjiru Mbugua.

“We have small short-term Team Kenya camps that will start as soon as the African Games are over. Every team that has qualified, or is on the qualifying pathway, will be able to join these camps so that they can start bonding and preparing for the Olympics,” she added.