By Teddy Namayanja
In a country where athletic prowess is a source of national pride, a dark shadow looms over Uganda’s sports landscape. The latest tragedy to befall East African nation’s sporting community is the untimely loss of Rebecca Cheptegei, a star in the world of athletics. Cheptegei’s shocking demise is the latest in a disturbing trend of attacks on female athletes in Kenya, leaving a trail of devastation and raising urgent questions about the safety and security of the country’s sporting heroes.
As the nation mourns the loss of another talented young life, the spotlight turns to the sinister forces threatening the very fabric of Kenya’s athletic excellence.
Activists, sports fans, and concerned citizens are uniting to demand answers and accountability for the untimely passing of the 2018 Commonwealth Gold medalist and first female Ugandan athlete to win such a medal Rebecca Cheptegei. With a rallying cry of ‘Justice for Cheptegei,’Tirop’s Angels -a non profit charity Foundation in Kenya is refusing to let her memory fade, instead shining a light on the circumstances surrounding her death and pushing for meaningful change. As the call for justice gains momentum, one thing is clear: Rebecca Cheptegei’s legacy will not be silenced.”
Speaking to Reuters News Agency, one of the founders of Tirop’s Angels, Joan Chelimo said “I am committed to raising awareness and working toward a future where everyone can live without fear of violance”
According to Joan, female athletes in Kenya are at high risk of exploitation and violance by men because of their money and status.
“As an advocate against gender-based violance, I am deeply shaken and outraged by the horrific attack that took the life of Rebecca Cheptegei. The lives of female athletes are threatened because of their success, money and status”. She said.
” This senseless violance must end. I stand with all survivors and demand justice for Rebecca and those whose suffering remains unheard”. She added.
Renowned Ugandan politician and activist Winnie Byanyima called for united efforts towards ending Gender Based Violence.
“She run and run to feed her children, to take care of her parents and pay for education & nieces and nephews; she trusted God, went to church and prayed: She made us proud to be Ugandan, East African, African. Our star Rebecca Cheptegei’s beautiful and brave life has been violently ended by a former boyfriend. Pumzika Kwa Amani #Cheptegei! May you fire us with anger to fight and end violence against women. #EndGBV“. She tweeted yesterday.
“Where’s the beast that killed our star Rebecca Cheptegei? Do we need to try him for murder? Why don’t we sort him immediately? Sometimes an eye for an eye works”. Tweeted angry veteran Journalist, Simon Kagawa Njara yesterday.
Kenya’s Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said Cheptegei’s death was a loss to the region and acknowledged that the Kenyan government must double efforts to end violence.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to combat gender-based violence in our society, which in recent years has reared it’s ugly head in elite sporting circles”. Kipchumba said.
Cheptegei who was 33 is the latest victim of attacks on female athletes in Kenya.
In 2021, Agnes Tirop, a rising star in Kenya and two time world champion bronze medalist, was found dead in her home with stab wounds to her neck. Her husband was charged with her murder but pleaded not guilty, and the case is on going.
In 2022, Kenya-born Bahrain’s athlete Damaris Muthee was found dead with a Postmortem report stating that she was strangled. Muthee’s boyfriend was identified as the main suspect and police are still searching for him.
Thousands of Kenyan women took to streets in protest early this year in the largest demonstrations ever held in the country against gender-based violence.
The matches against femicide too place following reports that 14 women had been killed in January 2024 alone as a result of gender-based violence.
