Sports Ministry targets gender violence with new policy task force

The government has appointed a 12-member advisory committee to address the rising crisis of gender-based violence (GBV) in sports, particularly targeting female athletes.

The new task force, which includes celebrated marathoner Catherine Ndereba and footballer Essie Akida, is tasked with developing policies to combat femicide and ensure a safer environment for women in sports.

On Friday, November 22, 2024, a Gazette Notice formalized the appointments.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Principal Secretary Peter Tum will lead the committee. Notable members of the task force include Ndereba, a four-time Boston Marathon champion, and Akida, a star footballer with the national women's team.

Academics and experts in sports and gender issues, such as Paul Ochieng and Barbara Malowa, will also play key roles on the committee.

Diana Watila will lead the Secretariat, with Catherine Njeri Maina, Lorna Tanui, Fardhosa Hassan Boru, and Patricia Arisi providing crucial support.

The creation of the task force comes in the wake of tragic events that have cast a spotlight on the dangers faced by female athletes in Kenya.

Intimate partners have killed at least 97 women this year alone, with several high-profile cases of female athletes becoming victims of violence.

The murder of Olympic medallist Agnes Tirop by her husband in 2021 was one of the most tragic events.

Tirop's death, alongside the killing of distance runner Damaris Mutua, shocked the nation and the global sports community.

The ex-boyfriend of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei set her on fire in September 2024, further highlighting the alarming prevalence of gender-based violence in sports.

These tragic deaths, coupled with reports of increasing violence against women, have prompted urgent action.

In 2021, former President Uhuru Kenyatta declared GBV a national crisis, but despite various interventions, the violence continues to escalate.

The newly appointed task force will focus on a variety of initiatives aimed at curbing GBV in the sports sector.

One of its key responsibilities is implementing the findings of the 2022 report on Gender Welfare and Equity in Sports, which called for systemic reforms to address the challenges faced by female athletes.

The committee will also develop comprehensive policies to protect women from exploitation, harassment, and violence in sports institutions.

The committee will also conduct gender audits and analyses across sports organizations to evaluate the management of gender issues.

It will advocate for gender mainstreaming and work toward establishing safer environments for women in all aspects of sports, from training grounds to boardrooms.

To further its mission, the committee plans to organize workshops and training sessions aimed at raising awareness about unconscious bias and gender-related issues among athletes, coaches, and sports administrators.

The committee's work will span three years, with the possibility of an extension.

The sports sector will regularly evaluate the progress of gender initiatives, monitor the effectiveness of policies, and ensure the achievement of gender equality.

The sports sector in Kenya is not the only place where gender-based violence occurs.

A 2023 survey by Africa Data Hub found that intimate partners were responsible for 75% of the murders of over 500 women in Kenya.

A 2018 World Health Organization report revealed that 38 percent of women aged 15–49 had experienced violence from a partner.

Despite ongoing efforts to combat GBV, including the declaration of it as a national crisis by President Kenyatta in 2021, the violence continues unabated.

The establishment of this new task force is a crucial step in the government's broader effort to address the issue of femicide and GBV in Kenya.