Sexual and gender-based violence scars East Africa's sporting legacy

Rampant cases of sexual and gender-based violence against women in East African sports reveal a deeply rooted culture of abuse that threatens to damage the sports sectors of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, known for producing world-class athletes, according to a report released on Wednesday.

The problem also affects women in soccer, particularly those in rural areas who are especially vulnerable to abuse from coaches, sports officials, spectators and even fans.

The report, released by Aga Khan University's Graduate School of Media Communications, found that Kenya has the highest prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence at 69 percent, a significant rise from the 43 percent reported by a government task force in 2022.

Tanzania followed closely at 62 percent, while Uganda had 48 percent of women aged between 18 and 44 stating that they had either experienced or knew someone affected by sexual and gender-based violence in a sports context.

Many female athletes, often at the peak of their careers, face a mix of verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse - frequently from coaches, teammates and even spectators.

Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei termed as unfortunate that the issues are extending into homes, citing the recent incidents such as last year, where Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei was set on fire by her ex-partner and the 2021 murder of Kenya's Agnes Tirop, allegedly by her husband.

While these two cases received international attention, he said, many lesser-known athletes suffer in silence as their abuse goes unrecorded and unresolved.

Hesbon Owilla, the research lead and a faculty member at Aga Khan University's school, reported a troubling trend where those meant to train, guide and support athletes often become the ones committing the abuse.

"Coaches, who have a lot of influence over team selection and career advancement were identified as key offenders, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania," he noted during the launch of the report in Nairobi on Wednesday.

Uganda showed a unique trend where 43 percent of participants pointed to spectators as major offenders, highlighting the need for public education on proper conduct in sports settings.

The study also found that exploitation, where athletes are pressured into providing sexual favors for opportunities, was especially prevalent in Kenya at 11 percent and Uganda at 10 percent.

This reflects serious flaws in a system that allows unchecked authority. The report titled "Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Against Women in Sports: Prevalence, Impact and Interventions in East Africa" noted that verbal abuse was the most commonly reported form of violence.

Tanzania led with 48 percent, followed closely by Uganda at 46 percent. Kenya reported 34 percent of verbal abuse cases but had the highest percentage of sexual harassment incidents at 19 percent, compared to 13 percent in Tanzania and 10 percent in Uganda.

Peer-on-peer abuse is also increasing in Tanzania, where 30 percent of respondents identified teammates as the primary offenders, suggesting a lack of awareness about respectful behavior and toxic locker-room cultures.

The findings also revealed an alarming level of underreporting, with a quarter of respondents unwilling to disclose whether they or someone they knew experienced abuse, indicating a culture of fear and stigma.

Many athletes expressed fears of retaliation or losing their positions on teams, especially as abusers often had control over their careers, Owilla said.

The report also mentioned that many abused athletes quit sports entirely after retirement, unable to cope with the trauma or unwilling to stay in a system that failed to protect them.

"This has led to a lack of experienced female mentors and leaders in sports, further solidifying male dominance and impunity," the report stated.

Tuwei stated that Athletics Kenya has a disciplinary committee and will act against the perpetrators when necessary.

The Principal Secretary in Kenya's State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, Anne Wang'ombe, expressed concern that increasing sexual and gender-based violence cases are making it harder for girls to compete with their male counterparts.