Athletics Kenya, the National Government Affirmative Action Fund and Equity Bank have joined forces in the fight against gender-based violence.
The engagement will involve visits to training camps beginning with Machakos on Monday morning.
From Tuesday, representatives from the three bodies will head to Ngong’, Kapsabet (Wednesday), Kisii (Thursday), Kericho (Friday), Iten (Saturday) and Nyahururu (Sunday).
There will be Online Community Engagement (local and international) between November 11 and December 9 and culminate with a visit to Meru on December 10.
The initiative will bring all 47 Women Representatives on board.
“Athletes and the 47 Women Representatives, supported by the State Department of Gender, State Department of Sports and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), are rallying in an unprecedented nationwide movement to combat gender-based violence in Kenya,” read a statement from the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage.
“Through these camps, they will share impactful stories and experiences surrounding GBV, resilience and change, embodying the call to ‘Reset — End GBV — Expand Power Base,” the statement continued.
“The campaign culminates on December 10 with athletes symbolically handing over the baton to legislators, urging them to uphold this advocacy with political commitment and policy reforms.”
The initiative aims to inspire change beyond Kenyan borders, signalling a united call to end GBV across Africa and beyond.
“Kenya joins a global community of athletes using their platforms for social change, from Colin Kaepernick’s stance for human rights to Megan Rapinoe’s campaign for equal pay.”
Kaepernick, a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, is famously known for taking the knee during the U.S. national anthem to protest racial injustice.
Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medallist, has been a leader in the fight for equal pay in women’s sports.
“Kenyan athletes are now adding their voices to this movement,
standing as beacons of resilience
and social justice. Their commitment
to eradicating GBV will resonate far
beyond the stadiums, redefining the
role of sports figures as champions for
human rights and gender equality,” the
statement concluded.
