State, athletes partner to combat gender violence

The National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), in conjunction with Athletics Kenya and Equity Bank, has unveiled a toll-free line to allow athletes to report cases of gender-based violence (GBV).

The hotline (1195) will allow athletes to call for help when in danger of GBV, in addition to another contact (0701116116) to enable them to send a SOS (message for help).

Viridiana Wasike, director of fund management services at NGAAF said the hotline will enhance communication, the lack of which has been a great impediment to the fight against the vice.

“You will not be required to pay any fee to access the toll-free line. The other one (0701116116) is a chatbot that will allow you to send messages whenever you are in danger or going through GBV,” Wasike said.

Wasike said the time has come for all stakeholders in athletics to speak about and out against GBV to create awareness of its perils and make it lose its power.

“Each one of us knows someone who has been hurt by GBV. We are here to have a conversation about it. We are asking everyone to lend their voice and time to this campaign,” she said.

Speaking at the same time, AK’s chief administrative officer (CAO) Susan Kamau said GBV is a vice that needs to be treated with the same seriousness as doping in athletics.

“GBV is unacceptable in our society as well as in athletics. As AK, we are committed to eradicating GBV and we will fight it the same way we are doing with doping,” Kamau said.

Moreover, she encouraged athletes not to be afraid to rush to Riadha House in case they have been subjected to any form of GBV.

“We are here to help. Do not hesitate to rush to Riadha House, which is our headquarters, in case you need help. You will be assisted; someone will be assigned to assist you,” she said.

The two were speaking on Monday afternoon during the first of a week-long engagement with athletes around the country on the modalities to end GBV.

The meetings, spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage—as well as the Ministry of Sports— NGAAF, AK and Equity Bank, provide the platform for athletes to highlight their stories and experiences around GBV, resilience and change.

Speaking at the same event, Equity Bank director of corporate services, Humphrey Nakitare, said they are touched by the impact of GBV on athletes’ livelihoods and society, as a whole.

“Equity Bank loves Kenyan sportspersons and we are proud to be part of this campaign. We feel so touched by how GBV has affected athletes and that’s why we have come on board. As a society, we must live harmoniously as human beings. Athletics needs mental concentration, without the distraction of GBV,” he said.

Chair of AK’s safeguarding committee, Elizabeth Keitany, assured that the government’s involvement in the engagement meetings assures that athletes’ and coaches’ suggestions will be implemented.

“We are here today with the government, unlike the last time when we only came here as AK. We have safeguarded so many girls and helped them. We ask you to not be afraid to speak up and seek help,” she said.

On their part, athletes provided a range of suggestions to curtail the vice, such as the inclusion of faith-based leaders in the awareness campaigns; devolvement of safeguarding committee to the grassroots; increased training of female coaches; enhanced surveillance of training camps; and empowerment of law enforcement agencies on the gravity of GBV.

Moreover, athletes urged the government and AK to continually undertake awareness campaigns rather than making them one-off events.

The engagement comes against the backdrop of the menacing vice of GBV in Kenyan sports, particularly, athletics.

The latest victim was Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who passed away in September 2024 after she was doused in petrol by her estranged lover at their home in Kitale.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday (November 5) in Ngong.

The awareness campaign will then lead to 16 days of activism (November 25-December 10), the end of which athletes will pass the baton to legislators to crystallise these suggestions into policies.