Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner and Olympian, has died in a horrifying attack in Kenya, where she was doused in petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend.
The attack occurred on Sunday, leaving Cheptegei with severe burns before she succumbed to her injuries early this morning at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Cheptegei, who competed in the marathon at the recent Paris Olympics and finished 44th, was also a gold medalist at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand.
She had been living and training in Trans Nzoia county, near Kenya’s renowned athletics training centers.
Authorities in northwest Kenya revealed that Cheptegei was targeted after returning home from church with her two daughters.
According to a local report, she and her ex-partner had been embroiled in a dispute over land, which may have triggered the deadly attack. Police confirmed that an investigation is underway.
Cheptegei had built a house in Trans Nzoia to be closer to the Kenyan training facilities, despite originally being from a region just across the border in Uganda.
Her father, devastated by her death, called for justice, expressing deep concern for her two children, aged 12 and 13. “We have lost our breadwinner,” he said, questioning how the children would continue their education.
The ex-boyfriend, who also suffered burns, is currently in intensive care but his condition is reported to be stable, according to Dr. Owen Menach of Moi hospital.
Kenya’s Sports Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, condemned the violence, stating, “This tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to combat gender-based violence, which has increasingly affected even elite sports.”
The murder of Cheptegei draws chilling parallels to the previous killings of fellow East African athletes Agnes Tirop in 2021 and Damaris Mutua in 2022, with their partners also identified as the main suspects.
Uganda’s athletics federation, in a statement on X, expressed their sorrow: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rebecca Cheptegei, a victim of domestic violence. We condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace.”
As the investigation continues, calls for action against gender-based violence grow louder, with this tragedy adding to the disturbing trend of violence targeting women in the region.
A 2022 national survey in Kenya revealed that at least 34% of women had experienced physical violence, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change.
