In a disturbing series of events, a tragic case of domestic violence has once again highlighted the growing number of deadly incidents involving female athletes in Kenya. The recent loss of Cheptegei marks yet another heart-wrenching instance following the deaths of Agnes Tirop and Damaris Muthee, renowned distance runners who met gruesome fates at the hands of their partners.

The ordeal began in October 2021 when Agnes Tirop, an exceptional distance runner, was found dead in Iten, a well-known athletics training hub in western Kenya. Just a month prior, Tirop had broken the women's world record for the 10-kilometer race. Her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was later apprehended and charged with her murder. Yet, justice remains elusive as Rotich has been out on bail since November of the same year.

Tragedy struck again merely six months after Tirop's demise when Damaris Muthee, a Kenyan-born runner who represented Bahrain, was discovered lifeless in a house in Iten. Her body carried the harrowing signs of strangulation. Immediately, law enforcement launched a manhunt for her suspected killer, Eskinder Hailemariam Folie, Muthee's Ethiopian partner. Disturbingly, it is alleged that Hailemariam Folie fled the scene with Muthee's identification and bank documents, complicating efforts to bring him to justice.

These distressing incidents reveal a disconcerting pattern of violence towards female athletes in Kenya. Additionally, other prominent Kenyan runners, such as Ruth Bosibori and Joan Chelimo, have bravely come forward to share their own horrifying experiences of escaping abusive relationships.

Experts have raised concerns about the vulnerability of successful women athletes who, due to their financial success, become targets for abusive partners seeking control over their earnings, careers, and assets. Their achievements on the international stage make them particularly susceptible to such exploitation. Nairobi-based psychologist Millicent Gathoni emphasized the need for sports federations to provide adequate support to athletes, guiding them in navigating their careers effectively.

Sadly, despite the alarming number of female athletes murdered in recent years, no convictions have been secured against the perpetrators. Obtaining justice for these innocent victims of domestic violence is imperative to curbing this deeply tragic trend. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that this issue extends beyond athletics or disputes over financial matters. It represents a broader, deeply troubling problem ingrained in Kenyan society.

Over the past year, Kenya has grappled with a pervasive femicide issue, with several high-profile cases of brutal murders sparking outrage. In response, thousands of Kenyan women took to the streets in "#EndFemicideKE" protests in January, demanding an end to gender-based violence, particularly within intimate relationships.

Kipchumba Murkomen, Kenya's sports cabinet secretary, issued a statement acknowledging the concerning trend following Cheptegei's death. Murkomen emphasized the necessity of combatting gender-based violence within society, noting its disturbing manifestation within elite sporting circles in recent years.

As the nation mourns the loss of yet another talented athlete, it serves as a poignant reminder that urgent action must be taken to address and eradicate the deeply rooted issue of domestic violence in Kenya. Only through meaningful collaboration between authorities, sports federations, and society as a whole can lasting change be achieved in order to protect and preserve the lives of these remarkable women.