Running for Their Lives: The Tragic Femicide of Female Athletes
Femicide, defined as the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender, is a global issue that often stems from entrenched gender inequality, misogyny, and power imbalances. It takes many forms, ranging from intimate partner violence to honor killings, and is distinct from other homicides due to its gendered nature. Femicide can occur in both domestic and public settings and is often fueled by a desire to control or punish women for defying societal norms or asserting their independence.
The tragic killing of Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei earlier this month – who was doused in petrol and set alight by her former boyfriend in an argument – is part of a growing and horrifying pattern of violence against female athletes in Africa, particularly in Kenya, where femicide rates have been climbing. In recent years, high-profile cases like those of Kenyan runners Damaris Muthee Mutua and Agnes Tirop have revealed a disturbing trend: talented women athletes are becoming targets of brutal violence, often at the hands of those closest to them.
Damaris Muthee Mutua, a Kenyan-Bahraini athlete, was found strangled to death in April 2022; her body was hidden in her lover’s house for days before being discovered. Agnes Tirop, another Kenyan long-distance runner and world record holder, was stabbed to death in her home in 2021, allegedly by her husband. Both murders shocked the athletic world and exposed how deeply rooted gender-based violence is, even in spaces traditionally seen as empowering for women. These women, at the peak of their careers, fell victim to a disturbing cycle of control, jealousy, and financial disputes.
One underlying factor in these killings is often tied to prize money. Many women athletes earn significant financial rewards from their competitions, which should be a life-changing achievement for them and their families. However, their success can also lead to tensions with male partners who feel entitled to their earnings. In numerous cases, prize money is mismanaged or spent irresponsibly by male partners, and when women athletes assert their right to control their own finances, violence can erupt. In Tirop’s case, it is believed her husband felt threatened by her independence and the wealth she earned.
This tragic reality for women athletes in Kenya is part of a much broader issue of femicide not only across the country.
In 2021, Kenya saw over 500 cases of gender-based violence, with femicide being one of the most extreme outcomes. In Nairobi alone, more than 60 women were killed in domestic violence incidents between January and June of that year. According to government statistics, cases of femicide are rising. While some progress has been made to raise awareness, much more needs to be done to protect women and hold perpetrators accountable.
The deaths of Cheptegei, Mutua, and Tirop are not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing pattern of femicide that reflects broader societal issues. Femicide in Kenya, as in many countries, is often rooted in gender inequality, where women’s growing independence is seen as a threat. The failure to adequately address these murders points to deeper problems within the justice system and law enforcement, which often trivialize gender-based violence or treat it as a “private matter.”
But this is merely the tip of the iceberg.
Globally, femicide continues to be a pressing issue, with some countries faring worse than others. In Kenya, where the rate of femicide is on the rise, women’s safety remains precarious. Latin America holds some of the highest femicide rates worldwide, with El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala leading the grim statistics. In South Africa, one of the most dangerous countries for women, a woman is murdered every three hours. Across Europe, an estimated 50 women are killed by intimate partners every week, highlighting that no region is immune to this deadly phenomenon.
The deaths of these athletes serve as a wake-up call for broader change. As they break barriers in their sport, women should not have to fear for their lives. Governments must take action to address femicide and gender-based violence through more robust legal frameworks, enforcement, and societal change. The tragic killings of women like Rebecca Cheptegei, Damaris Muthee Mutua, and Agnes Tirop cannot be allowed to fade into obscurity—they must serve as a catalyst for the urgent global response needed to end the epidemic of femicide.
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