The murder of Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei by her former partner has reignited demands for stronger measures against femicide in Kenya. The 33-year-old Ugandan was killed after her ex-boyfriend allegedly doused her in petrol and set her on fire at her home in Trans Nzoia County.
This tragedy is not an isolated case; Kenya has one of the highest rates of violence against women in Africa. Reports indicate that more than 10 women fell victim to femicide in January alone, which the UN defines as the killing of women due to their gender.
One survivor, Jane (a pseudonym), has been in hiding for much of the past year due to severe injuries sustained from a stabbing by her ex-partner. “His intention was to kill me,” she recalls. After enduring years of escalating abuse, she finally left when her husband began to turn his aggression toward their children. “It was hell living with him. I don’t know how I persevered for so long,” she adds.
Despite her efforts to seek help, Jane continues to face harassment. “I live in fear. He has threatened to finish me off. I can’t sleep at night and I’m on medication for my mental health,” she explains.
A 2018 WHO report revealed that 38% of women aged 15 to 49 in Kenya experienced violence from intimate partners. Support groups for survivors report an increasing number of cases, receiving up to 50 calls and 20 walk-ins daily.
In 2021, former President Uhuru Kenyatta labeled gender-based violence a “national crisis,” and a year later, a government report indicated that 41% of married women had experienced physical violence. Between 2016 and 2023, over 500 cases of women murdered in Kenya were reported, with 75% of these killings committed by someone known to the victim.
Sunita Caminha, a UN Women specialist, notes that women from diverse backgrounds are often victims of femicide, exacerbated by widespread gender discrimination. The latest UN report indicates Africa has the highest rates, with 20,000 women murdered.
The murder of Cheptegei has left many, including fellow runner Joan Chelimo, traumatized. Cheptegei had reported her abusive situation to the police, but “nothing happened,” Chelimo says, emphasizing the lack of accountability for perpetrators.
Despite laws aimed at combating gender-based violence, critics argue that enforcement is lacking. Reports of abuse are often dismissed by police, and only half of the police stations in Kenya have gender desks to assist women.
Cheptegei’s murder marks the third death of a female athlete in Kenya at the hands of an intimate partner in three years. The cases of Agnes Tirop and Damaris Muthee Mutua also highlight the ongoing issue, as no one has been convicted for their deaths.
Kenya’s societal attitudes and norms continue to perpetuate violence against women, often viewing them as subordinate. Advocates call for more safe houses for survivors and emphasize the need for changes in societal perceptions of women.
The government claims to be running sensitization programs while reviewing legislation to address gender-based violence. Survivors like Jane hope for stronger protections, fearing for their safety as long as their abusers remain free.
