Hope as Kisumu and Migori begin fight against GBV in sports

Efforts to tackle Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in sports have gained momentum in Kisumu and Migori Counties, bringing hope to hundreds of young women who have silently endured harassment, bullying, and even sexual assault in sports environment.

Through the Smart Ladies Youth Initiative (SLYI), women leaders, coaches, and advocates are pushing for safer, fairer and more accountable sporting spaces across football, athletics, volleyball, handball, hockey, and other sports.

SLYI, a community-based organisation working in Kisumu and Migori, is using sports, art, and culture to empower girls and young women aged 10 to 29 while advancing sexual reproductive health and rights and fighting GBV.

For years, GBV has been a hidden crisis in sports. While sport is celebrated as a symbol of excellence, unity, and determination, it has also become a high-risk space for girls and women.

A ministerial study conducted on July 10, 2021, revealed shocking trends, with 57 percent of respondents reporting having suffered sexual, physical, or emotional abuse at least ten times.

The report further showed that 43 percent of the violations took place during travel, in social spaces such as restaurants and bars, and even in changing rooms.

These numbers underline a crisis rooted in the culture of silence, power imbalance, and lack of accountability within many sporting institutions. Athletes often depend on coaches for opportunities, playing time, exposure, and scholarships.

That dependence makes many young girls vulnerable to exploitation and fear reporting cases.

Across different sports, the problems are strikingly similar—young hockey players afraid to speak, female footballers bullied into keeping quiet, or volleyball players intimidated during training and travel.

Elizabeth Obong’o, Hockey and Development coach in Kisumu, explains that the problem is big, yet support structures are extremely weak.

“Resources are limited or, at times, non-existent. There is limited support from relevant authorities. Fear of victimisation among affected persons means that many cases go unreported,” she says.

She adds that the majority of victims are female athletes, who face physical, sexual, and financial abuse in environments where they are supposed to grow and excel. Obong’o believes solutions must go beyond federations and extend into homes and communities.

“Educating the entire community on GBV will go a long way. Bringing cases forward allows justice to prevail and empowering all members of the community creates a safer environment for everyone, not just female athletes,” she said.

Eunice Dolar, the Executive Director of SLYI in Kisumu and Smart Youth Initiative in Migori, says GBV has long been ignored because sports institutions have been more focused on medals and reputation than athlete protection. She insists that the culture must change.

“Protecting athletes is not a favour but a duty. We can no longer celebrate victories while ignoring the violence behind them. Every federation, coach and leader must take responsibility for creating a culture where safety, respect and equality come before medals,” she states.

This shift is already taking place. The initiative has started sensitising federation officials in both counties, and work is in progress to strengthen safeguarding committees that will help document cases and protect athletes.

The organisation is also identifying survivors willing to share their stories—not only to push for reforms, but to give courage to others suffering in silence.

More training and community forums are planned for clubs, officials, coaches, and athletes to help them understand what GBV is and how to report it safely.

Increasing women’s representation in leadership is also a priority, with the belief that female voices in technical benches and decision-making spaces will help transform sports culture.

The initiative is supported by Feminists Opportunities Now (FON) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa (IPPFARO), and is now moving from raising awareness to demanding action and policy accountability.