The Olympic runner allegedly doused with petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend has died, it has been announced.
Rebecca Cheptegei suffered total organ failure after burns to 80 per cent of her body, according to the hospital treating her.
“Unfortunately, we lost her after all her organs failed last night,” Dr Owen Menach, acting director of the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, was quoted as saying by the country’s The Star newspaper.
The Uganda Athletics Federation also posted on X: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace.”
Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, wrote: “We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei OLY following a vicious attack by her boyfriend. May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women. This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure.”
The alleged attacker also sustained serious burns in the incident at Cheptegei’s home in western Kenya, local police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom told journalists after the pair were admitted to hospital.
“The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her,” Kosiom was quoted as saying.
Cheptegei, 33, was said to have been rescued by neighbours in the small town of Endebess.
The athlete, who was born in and competes for neighbouring Uganda, is said to have bought a piece of land in Trans Nzoia county and built a house, to be near Kenya’s many athletic training centres.
A report filed by a local administrator said she and her attacker had been wrangling over the piece of land.
The attack occurred exactly three weeks after Cheptegei finished 44th in the Olympic marathon.
She previously won gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The attack on her is the latest against a female athlete in Kenya, some of which have been fatal.
In April 2022, fellow runner Damaris Mutua was found strangled in a home with a pillow over her face in the Rift Valley town of Iten.
It came months after record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death in the same town.
Men have also been targeted, with Uganda’s Benjamin Kiplagat stabbed to death by assailants in Eldoret in December.
Figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics published in January 2023 found that 34 percent of women in the country had experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
Source Agencies
