Introduction
Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality underscores the importance of equal treatment of individuals regardless of their gender. Gender equality is not only an ideal, but is a commitment to breaking down barriers, changing the way people think about gender, and creating an atmosphere where all sectors including athletics can have equal male and female representation. Gender is globally measured through the Gender Equality Index (GEI) and Kenya is ranked 100th among the 132 economies featured in the Gender Inequality Index (GII) 2023. Athletics is fundamental to both gender in improving physical health, mental health, skills development, empowerment, and economic development. Athletics contributes to economic development through revenue generation from major athletics events, job creation, and promotion of sports tourism.
The Sports Act, 2013 aims to harness sports for development, encourage a drug-free sports and recreation, and provide the establishment of sports institutions, facilities, administration, and management of sports in the country and for connected purposes. The Act aligns Kenya with international anti-doping regulations, creating a fairer playing field for all athletes and protecting their health. This promotes equality by ensuring everyone competes under the same drug-free conditions. However, slow and inadequate implementation of the Act could hinder its effectiveness in promoting equality. Lack of clear procedures or uneven distribution of resources can disadvantage athletes in certain areas.
The Kenya Vision 2030 aims to achieve a country with a democratic system with a state of equality for all regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or socio-economic status. The nation’s long-term blueprint emphasizes on the crucial role of sports development at both the national and county level. The Constitution of Kenya outlines the responsibility of government to achieve gender equality within the athletics sectors and sports at large. As an example, the government and sports organizations have implemented policies and programmes to address gender disparities in athletics participation. The policies cut across funding and infrastructure, leadership roles and management, awareness and publicity, and training and coaching in the athletics sector. This blog focuses on achieving gender equality in Kenya’s athletics by leveraging on the Constitution of Kenya 2010, Sports Act 2013, and the Kenya Vision 2030.
Status of Gender Equality in Athletics Participation
The Kenya Vision 2030 aims at establishing and implementing the National Sports Lottery Fund to inject more than Ksh 500 million into the sports budget annually, with an aim of achieving equality. In 2018, the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund was established to fund sporting activities and programmes in the country. The National Sports Fund is aimed at increasing the diversity and supplement the budget of major sports events, train necessary technical personnel, and increase award scheme to enhance the competitiveness of sports men and women.
Leadership roles and management among male and female should be fair and equal in the athletics sector in improving athletics participation, policy formulation, decision making, and improved perception. The government through the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) demonstrates a strong commitment to address issues in women leadership roles on barriers in the athletic arena. The government pledged to establish a high-level expert taskforce on sports. This taskforce will be dedicated to identifying diverse funding sources and opportunities for female athletes. The taskforce will work towards drawing international sporting events by leveraging tourism promotion efforts. Moreover, the taskforce will strive to cultivate a thriving market for domestic athletics apparel, create opportunities for women in country leagues and inter-county athletics championships, and institute a benevolent fund dedicated to supporting female athletics heroes. The initiative will foster a more inclusive and equitable environment for women and men in athletics.
Awareness and publicity in the athletics sector has been thriving for Kenyan athletes and is publicized through media coverage and social media. The 2016 Olympics proved to be a turning point, as over half of Kenya’s medals were won by female athletes. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics marked an important moment in Olympic history as women outnumbered men, making up 56 per cent of the team, a first achievement since Kenya’s 1956 Melbourne Olympics debut where Kenya claimed bronze at the Paralympics Games. The Special Olympics World Games in Berlin in June 2023, which included 37 women and 29 men, proved that this change was not an isolated incident. However, most athletics activities have men with the highest number of representatives.
Other initiatives aimed at supporting men and women in sports include anti-doping services and public engagements. The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya tested 116 athletes during the 24th Summer Deaflympics held in Brazil and 251 athletes in readiness for the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. Separately, the Kenya Academy of Sports held two engagements with the sports federation and county sports officers to gather views on improvement of the sports talent identification and selection criteria and recruitment strategies.
In pursuit of gender equality and inclusivity within the realm of athletics, the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) conducted 6 holiday sport camps and trained 472 young talents in 2023. In addition, the Academy provided technical support, conducted mental wellness skills training, and provided psychosocial support for the Kenya National Deaf Team during the goal games for the blind in Greece. These initiatives underscore KAS’s commitment to supporting athletes of all genders and abilities in fostering a more equitable environment within sports in the country.
Policy Gaps and Emerging Issues on Gender Equality in Athletics
Funding and infrastructure
Funding and infrastructure disparities widen gender inequality in athletics. Female athletes often face challenges accessing adequate funding for training, equipment, and competition expenses due to their low numbers compared to their male counterparts. Additionally, inadequate sports infrastructure, such as training facilities and competition venues, disproportionately affect women’s athletic development and performance.
Leadership and management
Leadership roles and management positions within athletics organizations in Kenya are predominantly occupied by men, reflecting broader gender imbalances in sports governance. Limited representation of women in decision-making bodies perpetuates inequalities and hampers efforts to address gender-specific issues in the sport, such as equitable funding allocation and programming for female athletes.
Publicity and awareness
Awareness and publicity surrounding women’s athletics in Kenya are often insufficient, leading to a lack of visibility and recognition for female athletes. Media coverage tends to prioritize men’s athletics tournaments and trainings, resulting in reduced exposure and sponsorship opportunities for women athletes. Increased efforts to promote and celebrate the achievements of female athletes are essential for challenging stereotypes and inspiring future generations of women in sports.
Training
Training and coaching opportunities for women in athletics are limited, hindering their professional development and performance enhancement. Access to qualified coaches, mentorship programmes, and leadership training is essential for empowering female athletes and advancing their careers in sports. Addressing these policy gaps and emerging issues on gender equality in athletics in Kenya requires comprehensive strategies that prioritize inclusivity, investment, and systemic change to create a more equitable and supportive environment for female athletes.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Fostering pathways to achieve gender equality in Kenya’s athletics sector is not only a moral imperative but a strategic investment in the nation’s overall development and social cohesion. To cultivate a thriving athletics ecosystem, it is crucial to establish an enabling environment comprising robust policies, legal frameworks to promote female participation in athletics; sustainable funding mechanisms and infrastructure; equal opportunities for leadership roles and management; continuous awareness and publicity on athletics programs and events; and capacity building programmes and accountability systems.
By dismantling barriers, providing equal opportunities, and challenging entrenched norms, Kenya can unlock the full potential of its diverse talent pool, fostering a more inclusive and vibrant sporting landscape. The government may consider reviewing the Sports Policy 2013 to ensure it is comprehensive to cover all aspects of athletics. Moreover, integrating sports into the school curriculum, offering sports-based scholarships, and leveraging major sporting events for talent identification and revenue generation can further support gender equality and athletic development in Kenya.
Moving forward, it is essential for the government and athletics organizations to continue implementing affirmative action policies, advocating for equal funding across gender lines, and forging partnerships with private entities to support infrastructure development. Additionally, accessible coaching programmes, collaboration with schools and communities, transparent funding systems, and enhanced athletics science programmes are vital for nurturing talent and promoting diversity and inclusion. Moreover, ensuring equal media coverage and leveraging social media for targeted promotion will further advance gender equality in athletics. Fostering gender equality in the athletics sector is crucial not only for reflecting societal values but also for driving national development. By collectively pursuing these recommendations, Kenya could pave way for a more equitable and progressive future, where every athlete, regardless of gender, could thrive and contribute to the nation’s sporting excellence and societal well-being.
Authors: Rachel Munyifwa and Morris Mbaluka
