Mary Ngugi has set up a female athletics club, a first of its kind in Kenya, in commemoration of the death of Agnes Tirop.
The club which is led by a female coach aims at developing a pipeline of female coaches and leaders.
“Still, we needed to start somewhere, and that’s why I set up the Women’s Athletic Alliance, building a network to help the next generation avoid the suffering that so many female athletes have gone through. It’s also why, in recent months, I set up a female athletics club, led by a female coach, which, as far as I know, is the first of its kind in Kenya,” Mary Ngungi stated.
Also Read: Omanyala Pleads With Govt Over Young Athletes
Ngugi together with other athletes are marking one year since the death of Agnes Tirop, a talented and promising Kenyan runner.
Ngugi who hails from Nyahururu noted that there was no single female coach in the region despite being home to many athletes.
The 33-year-old marathon athlete noted that developing more female coaches will help Kenyan women handle issues relating to gender violence.
She also revealed that in many cases young female athletes who are surrounded by men are manipulated and are often afraid of saying no.
The Boston Marathon bronze medalist highlighted that more female athletes should be handles by female women as they feel safe and free.
“Right now, there are often few alternatives for women who feel they are being abused or exploited, but I want the girls in my camp to be able to tell their friends with coaches who are treating them badly, You don’t have to go through that. You have a choice; you can come to this group,” Ngugi highlighted.
She also highlighted that her aim was to make her female counterparts know that they have the same rights as men in athletics.
The marathon runner noted that male athletes in Kenya pursue their careers without making sacrifices since they are secure.
She also expressed her disappointment in the deafening silence of men in the country when it comes to the treatment of women.
Ngungi also announced that her club has recruited about five athletes aged between 16 and 22, and their goal was to have 12 athletes in the near future.
The five who were picked from different parts of the country will be trained by Beatrice Wakarine.
Ngugi noted that she will be happy to see equal number of Kenyan men and women going to the Olympics or World Championships.
Also Read: Jacob Kiplimo Pulls Out of Half Marathon With Ksh 32M Prize Money