Ugandan athlete Cheptegei has tragically passed away after being set on fire by her boyfriend, in a shocking incident that has drawn widespread attention and calls for justice

Medics and Ugandan athletics officials reported that Rebecca Cheptegei, an Olympic athlete from Uganda, passed away in Kenya on Thursday. She had suffered severe burns after being set ablaze by her boyfriend four days earlier.

Activists have sounded the alarm over a femicide epidemic in the East African country following yet another appalling incident of gender-based violence.

The president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, Donald Rukare, announced in a post on X that our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has tragically passed away due to injuries sustained from an assault by her boyfriend.

The demise of a remarkable athlete resulting from an irrational and gutless deed is truly regrettable. Nonetheless, her indelible mark will persist.

A man known as Cheptegei’s partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach was accused by the police of pouring petrol on her and setting her ablaze in her residence located in Endebess situated within Trans-Nzoia county over the weekend.

The occurrence happened a few weeks after Cheptegei, who is 33 years old, had participated in the Paris Olympics marathon and came in at number 44.

On Tuesday, the facility’s acting head informed reporters that Cheptegei had sustained burns covering 80% of her body during the attack.

On Thursday, a medic at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) informed AFP that all her organs had ceased functioning the previous night.

At 5:00 am (0200 GMT), Cheptegei’s attending nurse confirmed her passing.

On Wednesday, a medical counselor at the hospital reported that Cheptegei’s health had deteriorated and she was suffering from sepsis.

Request for fairness

The athlete received an outpouring of tributes.

“On X, the Uganda Athletics Federation stated that it is with great sorrow they inform of the demise of their athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei. She was a victim of domestic violence and passed away early this morning.”

“Such acts are condemned by our federation and justice is called for. May her soul rest in peace.”

The deepest sympathies of the Kenya National Olympic Committee were expressed towards Cheptegei’s family, friends and the Ugandan sports community on X.

It was stated that Rebecca’s legacy as the Women’s Marathon record holder in Uganda and participant in the 2024 Olympics held in Paris, will always be honored and acknowledged thanks to her talent and determination.

As she left us too soon in a tragic way, we deeply mourn her loss. In this difficult time, our hearts and minds are with you as we recognize her contributions and strive to eradicate violence based on gender.

On Sunday afternoon while Marangach’s target, Cheptegei, was at church with her children, police reported that she had entered the premises undetected.

According to her father, Joseph Cheptegei, she resided with her sister and two daughters in Endebess which is located near the border of Uganda as reported by Kenyan media.

“I begged for assistance.”

According to The Standard newspaper, Cheptegei’s daughters were present during the gruesome attack.

“One of the girls reported that he kicked her while she tried to run to rescue her mother,” was said.

The girl, whose identity remains undisclosed, recounted how she cried for assistance and her neighbour attempted to douse the fire with water but was unsuccessful.

It is unclear how Marangach’s condition currently stands, as he suffered burns covering 30% of his body during the incident.

According to the police, the pair had frequent arguments within their family.

Once again, domestic violence in Kenya has come under scrutiny following the assault on Cheptegei.

Feminist advocate Njeri Wa Migwi, who established Usikimye – a platform against gender-based violence, affirmed that her demise is an act of Femicide. She urged for the eradication of this heinous crime towards women.

Two years after the death of Kenyan-born athlete Damaris Mutua in Iten, a globally recognized running hub located within Rift Valley, an attack has occurred.

In 2021, Agnes Tirop, a record-breaking Kenyan runner aged 25 years was discovered stabbed to death in her Iten home. Her murder trial involves her estranged spouse who refutes the allegations against him.

According to the latest data released in January 2023 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, about one-third (34%) of women in the country had encountered physical violence from age 15 onwards.

AFP