Ugandan Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Being Set Ablaze By Her Boyfriend

The 33-year-old Ugandan athlete, who had recently competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics

Uganda – Tragedy has struck the world of athletics with the news that Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei has succumbed to her injuries after a brutal attack by her boyfriend. The 33-year-old athlete, who had recently competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, died on Wednesday at a Kenyan hospital, where she had been fighting for her life since Sunday.

According to police, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, Cheptegei’s partner, allegedly poured petrol on her and set her ablaze at her home in Endebess, Trans-Nzoia County. The incident occurred just weeks after Cheptegei’s impressive performance at the Paris Olympics, where she placed 44th.

Cheptegei suffered burns to an estimated 80 percent of her body and had been in critical condition since the attack. Medics at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) reported that all her organs had failed.

One of Cheptegei’s daughters, who witnessed the attack, described the horror she experienced as she tried to rescue her mother. “He kicked me while I tried to run to the rescue of my mother,” she said. “I immediately cried out for help, attracting a neighbor who tried to extinguish the flames with water, but it was not possible.”

Marangach, who was also injured in the attack, sustained 30 percent burns on his body.

The Uganda Olympic Committee and the Uganda Athletics Federation have condemned the attack and called for justice. “This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete,” said Uganda Olympic Committee president Donald Rukare.

The incident has once again highlighted the alarming rate of domestic violence in Kenya. According to the latest figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 34 percent of women in the country have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

The tragic death of Rebecca Cheptegei serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the need for urgent action to protect women from such atrocities.