Ugandan Olympian, Rebecca Cheptegei, has died in Kenya, four days after her boyfriend set her on fire, according to Ugandan athletics officials.
“We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei… following a vicious attack by her boyfriend. This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure,” Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Police reported that Cheptegei’s boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, allegedly poured petrol on her and set her on fire on Sunday at her home in Endebess, in western Kenya’s Trans-Nzoia County.
The attack happened just weeks after Cheptegei, 33, competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, where she finished 44th.
Cheptegei suffered burns on 80% of her body and had been fighting for her life in a Kenyan hospital. Sadly, she passed away when her organs failed, a medic at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital confirmed.
Kenyan media reported that one of Cheptegei’s daughters witnessed the attack at their home.
“He kicked me while I tried to run to the rescue of my mother. I immediately cried out for help, attracting a neighbour who tried to extinguish the flames with water, but it was not possible,” she said, according to The Standard.
Marangach also sustained injuries, with burns covering 30% of his body.
The Uganda Athletics Federation also mourned Cheptegei’s death in a statement on X, saying, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence.
“As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace.”
Cheptegei’s death has brought attention to domestic violence in Kenya again. In the past, other female athletes, like Kenyan-born Damaris Mutua and Agnes Tirop, have been victims of domestic violence.
Recent data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in January 2023 showed that 34% of women in Kenya have faced physical violence since the age of 15.
