It's time to let go of the burden of gender violence

Prisoners at Nyayo Stadium in April, ahead of Absa Kip Keino Classic World Athletics Continental Tour. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

From the outside, they seem strong and well fortified, but from inside, they are frail and vulnerable.

After years of taking everthing in their stride, male athletes have reached the breaking point. They’ve suffered in silence; they’ve had enough and decided to break the silence.

Their pace in numerous races has been enviable, and their accolades, just admirable. However, gender-based violence (GBV) is one race that has been too tough to conquer.

This is a sojourn that male athletes have vowed to take. Already, they’ve asked the police to handle such cases expeditiously.

They told a sensitization forum in Iten over the weekend that the police have been laughing off claims that male athletes are victims of the vice.

According to male athletes, some intimate partners were pushing them into violent acts. Road racer Mike Kimutai narrated a case where a male athlete reported a GBV case meted out on him, but was dismissed by the police.

“One male athlete was beaten by his wife, but the police took it as a joke. It was just before Agnes Tirop was killed,” the athlete told the anti-GBV sensitization forum in Iten.

Kimutai said the male athlete went back to his village to avoid more physical confrontation with his wife.

“The police asked how a man could be beaten by his wife. It appeared to me that they didn’t believe that men can be assaulted by their partners,” he said.

Athletics coaches were also blamed for not taking great concern over the issue.

“Some coaches don’t listen to male victims of GBV. They will dismiss cases and propose to address issues later on after training,” Kimutai said.

Nicholas Kibet, an upcoming athlete, said poverty was driving many young girls into abusive relationships with their male counterparts.

Kibet said budding talents, who are yet to make breakthroughs in the sport, are struggling to afford basic needs, a problem that was attributed to young talents getting into toxic relationships.

The forum was also told how young female athletes are losing property they acquire through their prize money to deceitful adults who persuade them to register their assets under their names.

According to athletes, disputes over property were among the major causes of GBV.

“Many athletes are suffering in silence. Some athletes have quit athletics because of abuses,” Mike Kasitit said at the sensitisation forum that was organized by Athletics Kenya (AK), Ministry of Gender and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF). AK President Jackson Tuwei said the federation had listened to several ideas from athletes on how to end the violence.

“There are so many cases (of GBV) and we have started recording. We are now looking to work closely with the National Police Service, parents, coaches and all athlete support personnel,” Tuwei said.