Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan Olympic athlete who competed in the Paris 2024 games, has died after being set ablaze by her lover, authorities confirm.
“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,” stated the Uganda Athletics Federation on social media, according to AP.
The 33-year-old runner, who lived in Kenya, was admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. She was sedated for a couple of days but died of multiple organ failure after she suffered burns over 75% of her body. On Sunday, witnesses heard the athlete and her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, in a heated argument over a parcel of land belonging to Cheptegei. Later, Ndiema showed up at the victim’s residence with a can of gasoline he had bought and then doused Cheptegei before setting her on fire. As a result, Ndiema also suffered burns over 30% of his body. He is currently in the intensive care unit recovering from his wounds.
The victim’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, was in uproar and blamed his daughter’s death on the Kenyan government and police.
“I blame her death on negligence by the government because the authorities should have taken it seriously when we first reported that this man [Ndiema] had become problematic and he was fighting her. We reported to the police, to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, but they didn’t take any action to save her life,” said Joseph Cheptegei, reported CNN.
Family members and the Uganda Athletics Federation are calling for justice.
Over the years, Kenya has struggled to eradicate gender-based violence against women who are vulnerable and being denied equality, dignity, and rights. In 2021, Agnes Tirop, 25, a Kenyan marathon athlete, was stabbed to death at her residence. Authorities arrested and charged her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, for the brutal murder. The case remains open. A year later, Damaris Muthee, 28, a Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete, was found dead, and an autopsy report showed she had been strangled.
Amnesty International Kenya and other non-governmental organizations are calling for an urgent need to address the rate of femicide in the country.
Cheptegei placed 44th in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics.
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