The Tragic Murder of Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei Sparks Calls for Stronger Protection for Women in Kenya

The tragic murder of Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei by her ex-partner has sparked renewed outrage over femicide in Kenya, bringing attention to the urgent need for stronger measures to protect women from gender-based violence. The 33-year-old Ugandan athlete died after being set alight by her former boyfriend at her home in Trans Nzoia county, located in western Kenya. Kenya has one of the highest rates of violence against women in Africa, with alarming statistics indicating that this is far from an isolated case. In January alone, over ten women were victims of femicide, according to media reports. Femicide, defined by the UN as the killing of women because of their gender, remains a pressing issue in the country.

Jane, a survivor of domestic violence, shared her harrowing experience with the BBC. After enduring years of abuse, she was brutally attacked by her ex-partner and left for dead. She now lives in hiding, haunted by fears of her ex's threats. "I live in fear... I can’t sleep at night. I'm not the perpetrator, but I’m living like I'm in jail," Jane said. According to a 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) report, 38% of women in Kenya aged 15 to 49 have faced violence from an intimate partner. Support groups like Usikimye, a gender-based violence advocacy organization, report receiving numerous daily calls from survivors seeking help. Despite existing laws, enforcement remains weak, with many survivors’ reports dismissed as domestic quarrels.

Cheptegei’s murder is particularly tragic because, like many other victims, she had previously reported her abuse to authorities, but no action was taken. Long-distance runner Joan Chelimo, co-founder of Tirop’s Angels (an organization formed after the murder of fellow athlete Agnes Tirop), expressed her trauma: "I can't sleep, imagining that someone was just burnt alive." Cheptegei is the third female athlete to die at the hands of an intimate partner in Kenya in the past three years. While Kenya has passed laws to address gender-based violence, critics argue that these laws remain ineffective without proper enforcement. Police gender desks were introduced in 2004 to facilitate easier reporting, but only half of the stations have them. In areas like Trans Nzoia, where Cheptegei lived, there are limited resources for victims to seek help. The situation reflects broader societal challenges, including patriarchal beliefs that limit women's independence and normalize violence as a form of control. Ms. Chelimo adds that female athletes, due to their financial independence, often become targets of violence. The Kenyan government has launched sensitization programs and is reviewing legislation to combat the rising tide of gender-based violence. However, for survivors like Jane, the battle for safety continues, as she prays for greater protection: "As long as he is free, I’ll never have peace.