The Kenyan runners confronting domestic abuse

In Iten, a Kenyan town producing world-class runners, the murder of a famous Olympian has led to a reckoning with gender-based violence.

Renowned for their stamina, strength and speed, Kenyan runners have won 34 Olympic gold medals and countless marathons. Many train in Iten, a rural town in the high altitudes of the Rift Valley.

Situated among acres of maize fields and pine trees, with cool air and endless dirt trails, Iten is a runner’s dream, attracting athletes from around the world. Aspiring professional athletes train in camps dotted across the town, running in large packs from early morning.