Source: Sam Mellish / Getty
Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan distance runner, has died four days after being attacked by her boyfriend.
Thursday, Ugandan’s athletics federation confirmed that tragic news on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence,” the Uganda Athletics Federation posted. “As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.”
The domestic violence came on Sunday when Cheptegei’s boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, bought a can of gasoline and tossed it on before setting her on fire in reaction to an argument the couple had. Cheptegei suffered burns on 80% of her body. Ndiema also injured himself and was also being treated at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret city for the burns on over 30% of his body.
But Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom says that despite being in the ICU, his condition was “improving and stable.”
Rebecca’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, was deeply saddened by her death and is focused on getting justice, fearing Ndieme may try to run from the law because when first informed, it wasn’t handled correctly.
“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 Investigation, but they didn’t take any action to save her life,” he told journalists.
Kenyan media even says the brutal attack took place in front of her two young daughters.
Most recently, Cheptegei competed for Uganda in the 2024 Paris Games just weeks ago in the women’s marathon, finishing in 44th place.
Cheptegei’s tragic death is only the most recent in a disturbing trend that makes her the third runner to be killed in as many years.
In 2021, there was Kenyan Olympic runner Agnes Tirop, who was found dead in her home after her boyfriends stabbed her to death in the neck. Then, months later, 28-year-old runner Damaris Mutua was discovered strangled in her home with a pillow over her face.
