Loroupe, federations call for immediate action against SGBV

Triple World Half Marathon champion Tegla Loroupe and local sports federations have called for immediate action against Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Against Women In Sports.

This follows a critical report launched in Nairobi on Wednesday, by the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications, in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation.

The report, pioneered by the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communication Research Lead, Dr. Hesbon Owilla, highlighted the prevalence, root causes, and impact of SGBV against women in sports in East Africa region.

The study titled “Exploring Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Against Women in Sports in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania,” shed light on how entrenched gender inequalities, power imbalances, and weak accountability structures contribute to widespread abuse of women within the sporting sector.

According to the report, 55 % of perpetrators of SGBV against women in the sporting industry are coaches and officials. Others are teammates, managers, fans, referees, doctors, physiotherapists, administrators, and even spouses.

"And when we talk of coaches, we also refer to women tacticians. Parents are also not ruled out. We urge coaches to treat players like their own children in their journey to pursue careers in the sporting fraternity," Loroupe underlined.

Athletics Kenya (AK) President Jackson Tuwei noted athletics has been the most affected federation in the country on SGBV issue.

"This prompted us to establish a Safeguarding Policy in 2023 to protect and educate athletes about this monster," Tuwei stated.

Tuwei said the federation has lost many athletes whose cases are still pending in court.

"Our 10K World Record Holder Agnes Tirop was killed in her house in Iten in October 2021. Edith Muthoni was killed in Kirinyaga, also in the same month. Damaris Mutheu Muthoni was murdered in April 2022 in Iten. Rebecca Cheptegei from Uganda was killed in Trans Nzoia last year in September, just fresh from taking part in the Paris Olympics, this was followed by the death of Samson Kandie in Eldoret in October,” stated Tuwei.

"All these cases are still pending in court. All these people died in their houses. As AK, all we wish is that all these cases could be solved faster. We have also cited suicide cases like that of Hosea Mwok Macharinyang due to family issues, we also have athletes who have lost properties or are battling in court with their spouses and respective family members.”

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) National Executive Committee Woman Representative Kerubo Momanyi challenged key stakeholders at the launch, that included sports federations, academia, civil society, and government officials, to take action on SGBV within the country.

"I have lived and experienced this before, it's the reason I want to leave FKF better than I found it," Momanyi highlighted.

"There has been less synergy in tackling the issue over the years. We have had so many expensive seminars and workshops but no tangible results. Every season we discuss what had been deliberated before. It is high time action is taken by the relevant authorities.

"What I have noticed is that SGBV has been normalised in many federations to an extent that even players feel you are a distraction when you step in to rescue them. Athletes should know they need safe spaces to train, play, and even report the perpetrators," Momanyi said.

Newly appointed Kenya Rugby Union President Harriet Okatch stated she is only two weeks old in the office and is already battling with SGBV demon.

"I have experienced it at the federation. We need to take action, we need to be firm, we need to implement and establish safeguarding policies on it. I urge all in this room not to let the report just be like any other launch. Kindly, let's walk the talk, let's make sports a safer place for all," Okatch said.

Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) official Duncan 'Sugar Ray' Kuria said SGBV is a very sensitive matter which has been swept under the carpet by the lack of concrete data.

"It is a pity that, as a player, sometimes the people you need to report are the ones you find yourself reporting to. We need a clear pathway to protect the victims, as some players have missed national team call-ups when they differ with the perpetrators, who are also their officials, coaches, etc.

"From Kenya's performance at the Paris Olympics, it was evident that our medals were mostly won by the women, this indicates that women are a force in the sporting industry," Kuria noted.

Professor Nancy Booker from the Aga Khan University and Esther Mulwa from the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, both called for action on SGBV, stating that it should be dismantled and condemned in the strongest terms possible.

"SGBV is not only a mega crime in the sporting industry but also a deep-rooted vice in our society. It is our collective responsibility to ensure every woman and girl is protected and allocated safe places to play and operate within the sport industry," Mulwa reiterated.