NAIROBI, Kenya, November 5 – Athletes living and training in Ngong have unanimously called for wide-ranging reforms to eliminate gender-based violence (GBV) and financial exploitation of athletes.
The athletes said there is a connection between the two issues, noting the importance of speaking out and working together with other stakeholders to end them.
The 2006 Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Lucy Kabuu urged upcoming runners to raise their voices against GBV regardless of what the society thinks of them.
“I have been quiet for a very long time but today I have stood here to say no to GBV. If you are going through the same, I want to encourage you not to be afraid to speak up, regardless of what other people think. Many athletes are afraid to open up because of what people will think of them,” Kabuu said.
Giving her experience as evidence, Kabuu called on all athletes to make prudent financial decisions.
“My message to upcoming athletes, when you start running and making money, be careful not to fall into the trap of unscrupulous coaches and managers. You should buy properties in your name and not in any other person’s name. Get a financial adviser to help you invest wisely. Learn from me and what I am going through; do not wait to learn from another person,” Kabuu said.
The 2013 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon has been embroiled in a property dispute with her ex-husband, with the latter laying claim to the Ksh 70 million estate.
Assist the helpless
Kabuu called on Athletics Kenya (AK) to provide athletes who are in a similar situation with legal assistance.
“There are others who are suffering and cannot access legal means of assistance. AK should assist these ones and work with coaches at the grassroot to identify these victims,” she said.
Kabuu was speaking at the Kajiado Disability and Empowerment Centre in Ngong during an engagement forum on GBV and financial literacy with athletes in the region.
The forum – organised by Equity Bank, National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and AK – began on Monday in Machakos with athletes from the Southern region.
Speaking at the same event, the 1997 World 10,000m champion Sally Barsosio warned young athletes not to be quick to get into relationships that expose them to financial exploitation and GBV.
“Run wisely and be self-driven. Every one of us knows where they have come from in their families and it is very important to be mindful of that. Don’t use your money carelessly and don’t be quick to get into relationships with people who are only after your money. These are the issues that lead to GBV,” Barsosio said.
Overall, athletes called for tailored programmes to enable male athletes cope with mental health challenges.
Furthermore, there were calls for rebuilding of the broken family structure in Kenya; athletes were encouraged to build strong bonds with their parents and their spouses.
AK’s open door
Chair of AK Nairobi region, Barnaba Korir, thanked athletes for being candid and reiterated the federation’s commitment to eradicating the GBV.
“I have just come from New York where we had gone to encourage our athletes running in the marathon. Also, we discussed, among other issues, GBV, which is becoming an issue of concern not only in Kenya but also worldwide. Thank you to NGAAF for walking with us in this journey of resolving this issue,” Korir said.
He encouraged athletes to make use of available avenues for assistance even as they explore other strategies to eliminate GBV.
“We have heard what you have said and noted it down. We have established the safeguarding committee at AK where you can reach out for assistance. The team includes a lawyer and athletes’ representatives to help resolve these issues,” he said.
The next stop for the campaign is Kapsabet on Thursday.
The week-long forums are a build-up to the 16 days of activism (November 25-December 10), during which athletes will lobby lawmakers to develop policies based on their views expressed during these engagements.
