Tirop Angels step up campaign against GBV in E. Marakwet

Three years after former World Cross Country champion Agnes Tirop was murdered following a suspected domestic row, fellow athletes have continued the fight against gender violence in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Under the Tirop Angels umbrella led by Viola Cheptoo, the group has continued to call on athletes who could be facing domestic challenges to come out for help.

Cheptoo, 35, is a Kenyan middle-distance runner with a wealth of experience, having competed at the 2015 World Championships, 2016 World Indoor Championships and 2016 Rio Olympics.

“When we started the Tirop Angels, we just thought we were going to the villages and speak about Gender Based Violence. We thought we were going to come to speak to athletes, but as more people came reporting to us we realized there is a bigger problem of GBV.

“We realized it was a pandemic affecting our community and the whole country. In Elgeyo Marakwet there is a big red flag of GBV and sadly, the leading are cases of defilement,” said Cheptoo.  

Her words were echoed by two-time Boston Half Marathon champion Joan Chelimo.

She continued, “If someone comes to tell you about their problems, please don't go to the market making fun of her, take a step to help," Chelimo advised.

The mission of Tirop’s Angels is to change society from the inside, beginning with educating young girls about gender-based violence.

Their activities target villages, athletics camps and schools; trying to change the culture of brutality against women.