Government's 6 new GBV measures after Rebecca Cheptegei, Agnes Tirop's death

“She (Rebecca Cheptegei) was a loving mother to Joy and Charity. For us parents, if you see her kids standing here, orphaned because of this heinous act, you feel the pain. Tragic deaths should prick our conscience as the government of Kenya and Uganda, sports fans, and officials. It must push us to action and stop the cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV).”

Those were Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s sentiments as he eulogized Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei during her military burial on Saturday 13 September in Bukwo District, Uganda.

Cheptegei’s untimely death opened a can of worms on the vulnerability of sportswomen to GBV. It is not the first time such a case has been reported in the country. Agnes Tirop and Kenyan-Bahraini athlete Damaris Mutua also lost their lives in the same way.

It is without a doubt, given the frequency of the incidences, that femicide still has its roots in the country, and more will need to be done to address the issue either by enacting policies against the vice or through state bodies.

CS Murkomen announced that his administration would implement a series of targeted measures to combat the GBV menace.

1. Constituting a multi-agency committee

This will begin the process of implementing the recommendations of the Sports Committee on Gender Welfare and Equity that was constituted by Athletics Kenya after Agnes Tirop’s death in 2021.

The murder of 2015 World Cross Country champion, Tirop lifted the lid on how vulnerable sports persons are to GBV. And that is why the news of Tirop’s murder, allegedly by her husband, came as a shocker not only to the sports fraternity but also to Kenyans and the world at large.

This awakened the Sports Committee on Gender Welfare and Equity which had been formed a few months earlier before Tirop’s death.

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The committee discovered all forms of GBV, including sexual exploitation, physical and emotional abuse, intimidation and manipulation, which are being committed by coaches, team officials and even teammates.

“In the next two weeks, as I promised during my vetting as the Cabinet Secretary, I will be constituting a committee,” CS Murkomen said.

2. Female sports camps to be run by women

According to CS Murkomen, when women lead female camps, they foster trust and understanding, allowing athletes to feel more comfortable sharing their concerns and experiences. Women can better identify and address issues specific to female athletes, including harassment and abuse.

“In the immediate terms, we shall demand that female sports camps be run by women with men only offering support and vice versa,” CS Murkomen offered.

3. Placing junior athletes under specific institutions

The CS announced that his administration would work with the Ministry of Education to identify controlled institutions where young athletes receive not only sports training but also education on their rights, personal safety, and how to report abuse.

“We will ensure all junior athletes' camps are placed under specific institutions both in primary and secondary schools and work with the Ministry of Education in the management of the camps,” he said.

4. Female matron for all travelling teams

The outspoken CS further noted that all travelling teams should have a female matron.

The matron's presence will encourage athletes to speak up about any concerns or inappropriate behaviour they may experience.

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“For travelling teams, we have already ensured that a team cannot travel without a female matron. That applies to any national, continental, or international competitions. Women will no longer travel with male patrons,” he averred.

5. Gender equity in composition of technical bench

“We will ensure gender equity in the composition of technical bench and trainers of women so that if the coach is a man, the assistant is a woman and vice versa,” he asserted.

6. Toll-free line to anonymously report GBV cases

“I am also in communication with my counterpart from the Ministry of Interior and Gender to put in place a care desk with a toll-free line where athletes can report cases of GBV anonymously,” he concluded.

These measures follow the unfortunate demise of Ugandan long-distance athlete Rebecca Cheptegei who was allegedly doused with petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend for what was referred to as a tussle over property.