Mobile phone service provider, Safaricom, has pledged to offer Kenyan Paralympics athletes cash incentives for medals won at the Beijing Paralympics which start in the next one week.

Gold medalists will receive Kshs 750,000; silver medalists will receive Kshs 500,000, while a bronze medal will attract Kshs 250,000 cash award.

The mobile service provider has also provided track suits for the team which was due to leave on Thursday for the Chinese capital.

Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Michael Joseph said: "Going by the excellent performance of the team to the 2008 Olympic Games, we hope this incentive will spur our Paralympians to excel in their respective sports disciplines at the Beijing Special Olympics."

Running guides

Two Safaricom staff members, Samson Okutto - a weight lifter and Martin Okiyo - an official, are among the contingent of 13 Paralympics competitors and five running guides.

The contingent also consists of multiple world record holder and the 2004 Paralympics 10,000 metres and 5,000 metres gold medallists Henry Wanyoike and the 2002 Paraplegic games javelin gold medalist Mary Nakhumicha, among others.

This pledge to the Paralympics team is the same amount per medal as was pledged to the Beijing team that recently returned from China.