)
Four talented female athletes in Kenya tragically lost their lives to gender-based violence, murdered by partners they trusted.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a deeply entrenched issue in Kenya, claiming the lives of countless women and leaving families shattered.
In this article, Pulse Sports will look at the four athletes brutally murdered in Kenya.
The country has witnessed some of the most shocking cases with four prominent Kenyan athletes being victims of such heinous acts with their lives being cut short by their intimate partners.
These tragedies not only highlight the pervasive nature of domestic violence but also underscore the urgent need for societal and systemic change to address GBV.
)
18:09 - 26.11.2024
‘Is this real life?’ - Tara Davis-Woodhall in disbelief over husband Hunter Woodhall after admitting to being ‘reckless’ with him
Olympics long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall was left gushing over her Paralympics star husband Hunter Woodhall, terming him ‘perfect specimen’ in her latest post.
Athletes who have excelled in their respective fortes and served as role models have been betrayed by their partners. One of the most high-profile cases was that of Agnes Tirop, a world-renowned long-distance runner who made headlines both on the track and in her untimely death.
These murders have sparked national outrage, leading to calls for stronger measures to protect women from domestic violence. However, despite these efforts, a ton of cases of GBV go unreported due to fear of retaliation, societal pressure, or lack of trust in law enforcement.
When trust turns fatal: Tragic stories of 4 female athletes lost to gender-based violence in Kenya
1) Rebecca Cheptegei
)
Just days after competing in the marathon at the Paris Olympic Games, Ugandan Rebecca Cheptegei was tragically murdered in Kenya after an argument with her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, who also lost his life.
As per BBC Sport, Ndiema ambushed Cheptegei as she was returning home from church, doused her with petrol and set her ablaze. It was speculated that they had not been on good terms and were not settled over a small piece of land where the marathoner lived and trained.
)
Cheptegei suffered burns on over 75% of her body and her death, like other high-profile cases of violence against female athletes in Kenya, highlights the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence in the region.
2) Agnes Tirop
)
Agnes Tirop is another star who tragically lost her life at the hands of a man she trusted, her husband Ibrahim Rotich. Tirop was tragically murdered on October 13, 2021, at her home in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
The previous month, Agnes Tirop had just broken the women-only 10km world record at the Adizero Road to records and the record stands till date. Her body was discovered and was covered with multiple stab wounds to her neck and abdomen with Ibrahim Rotich being ruled as the prime suspect.
)
20:00 - 27.11.2024
'Was I disrespectful?' – Usain Bolt addresses celebration backlash during his Olympic dominance
Bolt has recounted feeling nervous before his historic 2008 Olympics despite breaking the 100m world record months earlier.
Rotich went missing and before his disappearance, he disclosed to his close family members that he had done ‘something terrible.’ He was arrested near Mombasa.
Before her demise, Agnes Tirop had proven several times that she was a star when it came to ruling the roads and track. At just 25, her star was shining bright as she had won a world cross country title, a bronze medal from the World Championships, being a world record holder and she had also finished among the top eight at the Olympic Games.
3) Damaris Muthee Mutua
)
Damaris Muthee Mutua, a Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete was just living her life and making money from her talent before her life was cut short. The 28-year-old’s life was, however, tragically ended in April 2022 in Iten, Kenya.
According to multiple news sources, her body was discovered in her boyfriend's house, wrapped in a blanket and Kenyan police revealed that her Ethiopian boyfriend, Eskandar Hailemariam (alias Koki Fai) had something with her murder. She was allegedly killed after her boyfriend lured her to his house.
)
05:44 - 19.11.2024
Top 5 richest female track and field athletes
Track and field stars have been raking in the big bucks from their running careers and endorsement drals but who are the richest female runners in the world?
Her boyfriend then fled to Ethiopia but before then, he allegedly contacted Mutua’s family, claiming she had died by suicide and revealing the location of her body. The police confirmed the cause of death as strangulation. Having fled to Ethiopia, the police failed to capture him.
4) Edith Muthoni
Edith Muthoni is also another case of a very talented athlete who suffered at the hands of a man she trusted. Muthoni, an athlete and Kenya Wildlife Service scout was tragically killed by her boyfriend, Kennedy Nyamu, after a dispute over his phone.
)
09:11 - 25.11.2024
'They want a new king' - American sprint icon on pressure incurred on Kishane Thompson & Co since Usain Bolt's retirement
Since Usain Bolt's retirement, Jamaica has struggled to make an impact in the world of sprinting but with the rise of Kishane Thompson, there might be hope.
The argument went overboard and led to a physical attack from which she got a fatal head injury and had to be rushed to Kerugoya Hospital in critical condition. However, she succumbed to her injuries and the suspect was arrested. The investigations revealed a history of domestic conflict between the couple.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)