Running is a social sport, but for many, it is a means to an end. Elite athletes across the globe make a decent living out of the rewards that running brings. The sacrifices that elite athletes make to reach the pinnacle of the sport is commendable, especially when we look at the current crop of elite runners who come from impoverished backgrounds across Africa. Some of these female athletes, pay the ultimate price for the love of their sport but also for what becomes their professional careers. These female athletes, like the other victims of gender based violence, have nowhere to run from their partners, lovers, husbands, or male perpetrators when they are under attack. Often when they go to the police, they are not assisted effectively. They cannot even run to the state who are supposed to protect them.
The world was shocked to learn of the gruesome attack and murder of Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan marathon runner who competed in the Paris Olympics last month. Rebecca succumbed to the vicious attack after she was burned by her boyfriend.
Rebecca Cheptegei, above who was doused with petrol and set alight by her boyfriend.
Agnes Tirop, another athlete, murdered by her husband.
In Kenya, as in many countries across Africa and indeed across the globe, women are assaulted, raped and murdered daily. These attacks often happen at the hands of lovers, partners or husbands. Men who are supposed to nurture, provide for, and protect these women become their killers. Cowards, I say, not men.
I have often reflected and asked the question about why men do these things. And I don’t have all the answers, but there are solutions, and men must take responsibility for bringing about the change if we are to ensure that our women are safe, at home especially, in the workplace, and in society generally. Finding solutions must inolve men because without men being a part of the solutions, we will not top gender based violence.
Culture and tradition and all other avenues must be explored in the quest to find solutions. There is some research that shows a link between the payment of lobola, or dowry, as it is called in some countries, or the bride-price in other places. The payment for a bride is a worldwide practice and is probably a starting point for finding a solution t the GBV pandemic. Think about the ownership that comes with the purchase of anything, the purchase of goods or services brings ownership. Men exercise “ownership” over the woman they have paid lobola for. Men exercise “ownership” over the woman for who they have paid dowry. That “ownership” is seen by men as the right to do whatever seems right for an “owner” to do with his newly acquired “property.” that mentality says I can abuse you because I paid for you. Its a sick mentatlity and men must stop it.
GBV is a global pandemic and I find it ironic that governments around the world, pay scant regard to the impact of this pandemic. Covid saw billions of dollars being made available and spent in an attempt to stop the pandemic. Our women are dying in a man-made pandemic, yet we do not see the same level of government intervention. The reason for that is because governments around the world are made up of mostly, men.
