Athletes hold peaceful protests against Gender Based Violence

The streets of Eldoret town on Friday 22 October witnessed peaceful protests as athletes converged to mourn fallen Olympian and World Record holder Agnes Tirop. 

The multiple World 10000m bronze medalist who on 12 September 2021 broke the women-only 10km world record was brutally murdered a month later, allegedly by her husband Ibrahim Rotich who has since been arrested and is set to face murder charges. 

The march was led by elite athletes most of who were at the Tokyo Olympics with Tirop who represented the country in the 5000m finishing fourth. 

Female athletes led the group, holding a banner reading "End Gender Based Violence- Forever in Our hearts" 

A requiem maas was thereafter held at St Michael's Academy Nyamisa, Nandi. Her body will lie at her home in Nandi for overnight vigil before her burial on Saturday 23 October 2021.

Her murder has prompted a public outcry against gender-based violence especially against female athletes.

"Too many female athletes suffer under the control of men who feel like they are entitled to own them, like they would a farm animal.

I am working with a few athletes from around the world to help provide support, and also mentor the next generation," Mary Ngugi Boston Marathon bronze medalist wrote on her twitter account.