Athletics Kenya Suspends Senior Official Over Mismanagement of Funds Amid Rising Gender-Based Violence Concerns
“We cannot sit in Nairobi, thinking that things are okay when they are not”AK President, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei
Athletics Kenya (AK) has suspended a senior official overseeing athletes in Nandi County amid allegations of mismanagement of funds intended to support athletes.
Speaking at a gender-based violence (GBV) awareness workshop in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, AK President, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei, announced the suspension and shared AK’s intention to pursue the official’s arrest.
This measure comes as part of a comprehensive effort to increase accountability, transparency, and athlete protection.
“We were here in 2021 for a consultative meeting with you on GBV. The product of that meeting was the formation of a safeguarding policy, as defined by World Athletics, and a Safeguarding Committee,” Tuwei said. “This time, we have returned with the government and are hopeful of coming up with even better measures from your proposals.”
Tuwei added that AK’s commitment to athlete welfare and safety would include registering all athletes on a national athlete registration system . “From January, no athlete will be allowed to participate in any race, locally or internationally, unless they are registered in the Athletics Kenya database. We will ensure that all athletes are registered, including coaches.” This database aims to eliminate loopholes and ensure that both athletes and their support teams are registered, providing a safeguard against mismanagement.
The AK President also highlighted plans to train safeguarding officers across the country, ensuring athlete protection in every region. “The next step is that we are going to train two people in each region on safeguarding so we can protect you better. We cannot sit in Nairobi, thinking that things are okay when they are not. That’s why we have come for another round of meetings.”
The workshop brought together local leaders, coaches, athletes, and government officials to address both financial misconduct and GBV, which has emerged as a critical issue in the North Rift region. Tuwei expressed concern over rising GBV incidents, especially following the recent deaths of elite athletes like Agnes Tirop and Rebecca Cheptegei. “We regret having lost some of our top athletes to these tragic cases of gender-based violence. We are here to ask our athletes to speak up. Enough is enough,” he said.
Rachel Kamweru, representing the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action, underscored that the government does not tolerate GBV, sexual abuse, or harassment. She cited a case of a football coach in Kilifi who was sentenced to life for defiling a minor, emphasizing that such sentences are in place to protect athletes and young people. Kamweru also noted that poverty is a major factor contributing to exploitation, as young athletes often lack resources and support during their training.
“It’s clear from the young athletes present today that many are suffering from poverty, leading some to be exploited due to their lack of basic needs,” Kamweru said. To address this, Kamweru proposed organizing athletes into groups that can access government funding, such as the Youth Enterprise Fund, and setting up camps for young athletes to secure their needs and reduce vulnerability.
Mike Kimtai, an Iten-based athlete, called for an increase in female coaches to provide female athletes with safe spaces for reporting abuse. “We need more female coaches here in Iten so female athletes have people they can confide in,” Kimtai said. “It is very difficult for a female athlete to reveal to a male coach that she is undergoing GBV. The law enforcement agencies should also be empowered, especially when it comes to handling male victims of GBV.”
Adding his perspective, Iten athletics coach Henry Cherono described the town as a “hotspot of GBV” and emphasized the need for community-led efforts to address the issue. “As the athletics community in Iten, we have already started the conversation on how to end this menace. On the 22nd of this month, we will continue this conversation. There is a need for conflict resolution methods to nip GBV in the bud before it worsens,” Cherono said.
The workshop concluded with a call for collaboration among community leaders, government agencies, coaches, and athletes themselves to tackle the intertwined issues of financial mismanagement and GBV. Athletics Kenya’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding athletes marks a pivotal step in creating a supportive environment that ensures the welfare of Kenya’s talented athletes on both personal and professional levels.
About Author
