Rebecca Cheptegei, a prominent Ugandan Olympic athlete, has tragically died in a Kenyan hospital after sustaining severe burns in an attack by her partner. A spokesperson from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret city confirmed Thursday that Cheptegei, 33, passed away early that morning due to organ failure. She had been sedated upon admission following the incident.
Cheptegei, a long-distance runner, competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, finishing in 44th place just a month prior to the attack. Joseph Cheptegei, her father, expressed profound grief at the hospital, describing his daughter as “very supportive” and demanding justice for her murder. He criticized the lack of action from security officials, noting that the perpetrator, identified as Dickson Ndiema, had not been apprehended and could potentially flee.
According to Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom, the horrific incident occurred during a dispute last Sunday. Ndiema reportedly purchased gasoline, doused Cheptegei with it, and set her ablaze. He too sustained burns and was being treated in the same hospital’s intensive care unit, where officials noted that he was in stable condition with burns covering 30% of his body.
Cheptegei had recently bought land in Trans Nzoia to be closer to Kenya’s athletic training centers, where she continued to train. A local chief reported that the couple had been heard arguing over the land where Cheptegei’s house was constructed before the attack took place.
The Uganda Athletics Federation publicly mourned Cheptegei on the social platform X, condemning the domestic violence that led to her death and calling for justice. Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare labeled the attack as a “cowardly and senseless act,” praising Cheptegei as a remarkable athlete. Kenya’s Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen assured that the government would pursue justice, emphasizing the need to combat gender-based violence, particularly within elite sports.
Uganda’s First Lady Janet Museveni expressed her anguish over Cheptegei’s death, labeling it as “deeply disturbing.” International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach also mourned her loss, highlighting her participation in the Paris 2024 women’s marathon as a source of inspiration.
The United Nations strongly condemned the attack, with U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric echoing Secretary-General António Guterres’s sentiments about the pervasive male-dominated culture that endangers women by denying them equal rights and dignity. Dujarric pointed out alarming statistics, noting that every 11 minutes, on average, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member worldwide, suggesting that the true numbers are likely higher due to underreporting. He emphasized that the denial of women’s rights hampers societal peace, economic prosperity, and justice but asserted that a different world is possible.
This tragic event adds to a string of violent incidents involving elite athletes in the region. In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead with stab wounds. In 2022, Damaris Muthee, a Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete, was found dead with signs of strangulation. In 2021, long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was murdered by stabbing in her home, with her husband charged and arrested.
Kenya’s issue with violence against women has led to public protests this year. According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, 41% of dating or married Kenyan women have experienced physical or sexual violence from their partners, highlighting a critical need for societal change.
