Four-time Boston Marathon champion Catherine Ndereba has been appointed to the Gender Protection and Implementation Committee, established by Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
Also joining the committee is former Harambee Starlets forward Essie Akida.
The seven-member committee will be responsible for overseeing the full implementation of a report from the Gender Welfare and Equity in Sports Commission, which was formed in 2022 by former Sports CS Amina Mohamed.
According to the Gazette Notice, the committee’s primary functions include the development and implementation of gender-related policies, particularly those addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in sports.
It will also create a multi-agency framework to combat GBV, advocate for gender mainstreaming within sports, and ensure a safe environment for all sports personnel.
The committee will evaluate the effectiveness of existing gender initiatives, lead awareness campaigns on gender issues and unconscious bias in sports, and take other steps to promote gender equity in the sector.
Ndereba has been a vocal advocate for addressing GBV in Kenyan sports. She led the taskforce appointed by Amina Mohamed in 2022, following the tragic death of world 10k record holder Agnes Tirop, who was found murdered after an altercation with her husband.
Akida, one of Kenya’s most internationally recognized female footballers, has played professionally in Israel (Ramat HaSharon), Turkey (Beşiktaş), and Greece (PAOK).

Essie Akida.
Other members of the committee include Prof. Paul Ochieng’, Barbara Malowa, Benjamin Wafula, Elizabeth Wangeci, and Joyce Kebenei.
The committee’s secretariat will be led by Diana Watila as CEO, with Catherine Njeri, Lorna Tanui, Fardhosa Hassan Boru, and Patricia Arisi serving as members.