NYAHURURU, Kenya, November 10 – The one-week engagement forums across the country on gender-based violence, dubbed RESET-END GBV-EXPAND POWERBASE, concluded on Sunday evening at the Nyahururu Social Hall with a clarion call for athletes not to suffer in silence.
Speaker after speaker reiterated on the importance of speaking out about the vice and sharing experiences as a powerful tool to eradicate GBV.
Four-time Boston Marathon champion Catherine Ndereba offered herself as a shoulder to lean on for any athlete undergoing GBV and other related challenges.
“As we sit here today, let us open up. My brothers, my sisters, sons and daughters, in case you’re hurting somewhere, open up. I am here…if you feel comfortable in confiding in me, I am ready to help,” Ndereba said.
She further urged athletes to be each other’s keeper, noting that GBV doesn’t occur spontaneously but begins as emotional abuse.
“Instead of keeping what is hurting you inside, speak it out. Let be our brothers and sisters keeper. If you find someone has drastically changed, please check on them. The minute you begin to open you will find help,” the double Chicago Marathon winner said.
The campaign has been organised by AK, Equity Bank, National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) and the State Department of Gender and State Department of Sports – supported by Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
Speaking at the same time, Athletics Kenya (AK) chief administrative officer Susan Kamau informed athletes that help is only a short distance away.
She said athletes stuck in abusive relationships have an abundance of options to choose from as far as reporting their cases is concerned.
“Incase Riadha House in Nairobi is too far, there are NGAAF offices across the country, including here in Nyahururu. You can contact them and get help as soon as possible,” Kamau said.
At the same time, the athletes were taken through a lesson on financial management in which they were reminded to live their lives with an eye on the future.
“’Pesa sio shida, shida ni kutumia,’ is a very dangerous mantra to live by. As athletes, you should use every shilling you earn wisely and account for it. You need to prepare for the future to come, including injuries and retirement. This is what Equity Bank is teaching athletes and all those interested in proper financial management,” Ann Gikonyo from Equity Bank, said.
Gikonyo further emphasised on the need to save their money with a long term plan in mind, noting that saving is a priority and not an afterthought.
“Savings are not leftovers but money you plan for beforehand. You need to set aside a certain percentage of your earnings to put into savings. You should save with a particular long term goal in mind,” she said.
The campaign commenced on November 4 in Machakos before subsequent tours in Ngong’ Hills, Kapsabet, Kericho, Iten and Nyahururu.
The next step of the campaign is the ’16 days of activism’ in which athletes will present a communique consisting of their proposals to end GBV.
These proposals will be presented to legislators with the expectation that they will be transformed into evidence for making and strengthening policies against the vice.
