By Wasike Elvis

Athletes and coaches in Elgeyo Marakwet County have called for safer training environments and stronger support systems as more survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) come forward to share experiences that have for years remained hidden.

The stakeholders say athletes, particularly young women, need safe spaces where they can speak freely about abuse, financial exploitation, harassment and other challenges they face both at training camps and away from the track.

The call was made during a media engagement forum held in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, and organised through a partnership involving the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), Centre for the Enhancement of Democracy and Good Governance (CEDGG) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The forum brought together athletes, coaches, journalists and other stakeholders to discuss the challenges facing athletes and the role of the media in ensuring survivors can speak out without fear of stigma, discrimination or further victimisation.

Stakeholders said the fight against GBV in athletics requires cooperation between athletes, coaches, families, sports organisations, government agencies, journalists and the wider community.

Ruto's story highlights hidden struggle

Among those who shared her experience was Eveline Ruto, a 42-year-old athlete and GBV survivor who said she spent years suffering in silence while also losing control of money earned through her athletics career.

Ruto said her experience began with financial exploitation in her marriage.

She recalled receiving her first prize cheque after competing as an athlete but said she did not know how to manage the money.

Her husband took her to the bank, withdrew the earnings and gave her only Sh1,000.

 “My husband took me to the bank and withdrew the money. He gave me KSh1,000,” she recalled.

Ruto continued competing in races and winning prize money, but she said she rarely had access to her earnings or enough money to support herself and her children.

She said the situation became even more difficult in 2016 when her husband left her for another woman.

“I suffered a lot. I kept quiet and suffered more than anything,” she said.

For years, Ruto said, she remained silent about what she was going through as she continued with her athletics career.

Her turning point came in 2021 after she joined Straight for Africa, where she received counselling and support.

“I was counselled and gained energy. I went back to training. I was empowered and regained my morals,” she said.

The support gave her the confidence to return to competition and rebuild her life.

Running brings back hope

Ruto's return to athletics has gradually started producing results.

She finished 28th at the Eldoret City Marathon before securing third place at the Mbeya Marathon. She later finished sixth in Arusha and ninth in the Dodoma Marathon in July.

Although the prize money has not been enough to transform her circumstances completely, Ruto said the earnings have allowed her to take care of some of her children's needs.

She said the money she earned from recent races helped her return her children to school, giving her a renewed sense of hope.

“I got a few shillings and took my children to school. That has given me hope. Though I am ageing and I have gone through a lot, I still have hope,” she said.

Ruto is now using her own experience to encourage other athletes not to suffer in silence.

She particularly urged female athletes to speak out when they experience abuse, exploitation or harassment.

“I want to tell athletes that they should speak out on GBV. I kept quiet and I suffered more than anything. Right now, we have people who can help,” she said.

Her story has become an example of how counselling, financial independence and support can help survivors regain confidence and rebuild their lives.

Coaches urged to protect athletes

Athletics coach Richard Kanda said GBV has affected athletes in Elgeyo Marakwet for years, although many cases have remained hidden.

He said some athletes and coaches did not fully understand the different forms of GBV or know how to respond when cases occurred.

“As coaches, we need to protect our athletes from different backgrounds. For girls, they are mistreated by men,” Kanda said.

He said coaches have a responsibility to ensure that training camps and other environments where athletes live and train are safe.

According to Kanda, some athletes have experienced serious abuse, while others have lost their lives at the hands of people known to them.

He said coaches have therefore started working together to address the problem and create safer environments for athletes.

“We decided as coaches to work and eradicate the vice. Now athletes are happy with the steps we have made,” he said.

Kanda said the safety of athletes should be treated as a priority, particularly in Iten, which has become an internationally recognised training destination for elite distance runners.

“If they train here in Iten, we shall do well. We want the town to be safe for all,” he said.

Financial independence key to athlete safety

Kanda also pointed to financial empowerment as an important part of protecting athletes from exploitation.

He said athletes need financial knowledge and savings mechanisms that can help them manage their earnings and reduce their dependence on other people.

He highlighted the formation of an athletics savings initiative as one of the measures being used to promote financial independence among athletes.

“I wish we started this SACCO long ago when I was an athlete. This has really helped us,” he said.

Stakeholders said financial exploitation can be difficult to detect because athletes may depend on relatives, spouses, coaches or other people to manage their prize money.

They called for greater financial literacy among athletes so that they can understand their earnings, rights and responsibilities.

Journalists challenged to go beyond race results

MCK Nakuru Regional Coordinator Joseph Mecha challenged journalists to expand their coverage beyond race results and competition schedules to the social issues affecting athletes.

He said the media has an important role in creating a safe environment where athletes can tell their stories and seek assistance.

“We had a successful discussion on GBV with athletes and journalists to bring sanity in athletics,” Mecha said.

He urged journalists to conduct adequate research before publishing stories involving GBV and SEA and to handle survivors' accounts with care.

“We should not just report on events but look for better ways to support the athletes,” he added.

Mecha said responsible journalism can help expose challenges affecting athletes while also ensuring that survivors are not subjected to additional trauma through insensitive reporting.

He urged journalists to protect the identity and dignity of survivors where necessary, avoid victim-blaming and respect professional standards when covering sensitive cases.

MCK, he said, is ready to work with different organisations and stakeholders to strengthen support systems for athletes.

He also linked the need for better safeguarding to Kenya's preparations for major international athletics events, saying the country should ensure its sporting environment is safe for athletes and visitors.

CEDGG calls for accountability

CEDGG Chief Executive Officer Paul Masese said the problem of GBV in athletics extends beyond physical and emotional abuse.

He said financial exploitation is also a major concern, with some athletes losing control of money earned through their careers.

“We are urging all stakeholders to end GBV in athletics. For many years, athletes have gone through GBV, especially through financial exploitation,” Masese said.

He called for accountability among government institutions, sports organisations, coaches and individuals who have responsibility for protecting athletes.

Masese said many survivors had remained silent for years but were now finding the courage to speak.

“Many athletes have gone through a lot and many have kept quiet, but they are now talking,” he said.

CEDGG has been engaging both county and national government representatives as part of efforts to strengthen the response to GBV.

The organisation is also working with six athletics camps in the region to improve safeguarding mechanisms.

Masese said the organisation is particularly focused on empowering female athletes so that they can take a leading role in identifying, reporting and preventing abuse.

Need for stronger reporting systems

Stakeholders at the forum said athletes need accessible and trusted channels through which they can report abuse.

They noted that survivors may hesitate to report cases because of fear of stigma, retaliation, discrimination or concerns that nothing will happen after a complaint is made.

Coaches were urged to understand their safeguarding responsibilities and ensure athletes know where to seek help.

Journalists were also encouraged to report cases responsibly while ensuring that survivors are not exposed to further harm.

The stakeholders said reporting should not end with publication, but should contribute to creating awareness, accountability and access to support services.

Protecting athletes beyond training camps

Another concern raised during the discussions was the number of athletes who train outside established camps.

Stakeholders said athletes living independently or staying in private accommodation may face risks that are harder for coaches and sports authorities to monitor.

They called for better coordination between coaches, sports organisations, government agencies and security authorities so that athletes can be accounted for and know where to seek help.

The aim is to ensure that an athlete's safety does not depend solely on whether they are inside a formal training camp.

Ethical reporting remains critical

Journalists attending the forum were reminded that GBV and SEA stories require a different approach from ordinary sports reporting.

They were urged to avoid sensationalising survivors' experiences, revealing unnecessary personal information or portraying victims in ways that could expose them to further stigma.

Instead, journalists were encouraged to give survivors a voice while providing accurate information about available support and reporting mechanisms.

MCK said ethical reporting can help build public understanding of GBV while encouraging more survivors to come forward.

A safer future for athletics

For athletes and coaches in Elgeyo Marakwet, the discussions marked another step towards addressing issues that have often remained behind the scenes.

Iten's reputation as a home of elite distance running has brought athletes from different parts of Kenya and the world, making the safety and welfare of those training in the region an increasingly important concern.

Stakeholders say creating safer sporting environments will require more than policies and public statements.

They want coaches to take responsibility, athletes to know their rights, families to provide support, authorities to respond to complaints and journalists to report cases responsibly.

For Ruto, the journey from years of silence to speaking publicly about her experience demonstrates the importance of giving survivors a platform.

Her recent races may not yet have produced major prize money, but each competition has given her something she nearly lost during years of abuse and financial exploitation — hope.

As she encourages other athletes to speak out, stakeholders are calling for that message to be matched with stronger systems capable of listening, protecting survivors and holding perpetrators accountable.