President’s women advisor condemns violence against women as she condoles Cheptegei’s passing

By Antynet Ford

The Office of Women’s Rights advisor to the president has condemned gender-based violence against women following the brutal killing of Uganda athlete Rebecca Cheptegei at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret on Thursday.

In her condolence message to the family of Cheptegei, Harriet Chiggai termed the incident as unfortunate adding that it afflicts not only female athletes but also ordinary Kenyan women and children living in hazardous and volatile domestic environments.

“This ugly phenomenon, not only afflicts female athletes, but also ordinary Kenyan women and children living in hazardous and volatile domestic environments. We at the Office of the Women Rights Advisor to the President H.E. William S. Ruto, offer our sincere condolences to the family of Rebecca Cheptegei.” Chiggai said in a statement.

Chiggai termed Cheptegei as a talented and inspirational athlete who did not deserve to be taken away from her family, including her two young daughters, because of a domestic dispute.

“Cheptegel succumbed to her injuries like many other women who pass through the ever-silent pandemic of intimate partner violence. Violence that occurs in the confines of the home is difficult to track and also report.” She added.

According to the President’s human rights advisor despite the work of local and State agencies to better educate and protect women from serialized Gender-Based Violence (GBV), instances of intimate partner violence continue to be underreported in Kenya.

Approximately 34% of Kenyan women experience physical and or sexual violence from the tender age of 15 years, we recognize that as a society we need to do better to protect women and girls.

She added that her office together with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports is working towards spotlighting GBV in sports and creating mechanisms for prevention, reporting, and responding to the vice.

“We urge the relevant law enforcement and legal officers to ensure that Justice is served to the families of Rebecca Cheptegei, Agnes Tirop, Damaris Mutua, and other victims of gender-based violence.” She stated.

“I reiterate that violence against women and girls in any form, is an assault on their rights to freedom. The Government remains committed to ending all forms of GBV by creating system change across all duty bearers.” She added.