Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has passed away in a Kenyan hospital, where she was being treated for severe burns covering 80% of her body after being attacked by her partner.
Cheptegei, 33, succumbed to organ failure, according to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital spokesperson Owen Menach, who confirmed her death early Thursday morning. She had been under full sedation since her admission.
Cheptegei competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics just weeks before the attack, finishing in 44th place. Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, expressed his grief, calling her a “very supportive” daughter and hoping for justice.
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander, Jeremiah ole Kosiom, revealed that Cheptegei’s partner, Dickson Ndiema, set her on fire after pouring gasoline on her during a dispute over land. Ndiema, who also sustained burns, is currently being treated in the same hospital and remains in intensive care, though his condition is stable.
Cheptegei had purchased land in Trans Nzoia to be near the region’s athletic training centers. The couple had reportedly been arguing over the property where her home was located prior to the tragic incident.
The Uganda Athletics Federation expressed sorrow on social media, condemning the act of domestic violence, while Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare described the attack as a “cowardly and senseless act” that claimed the life of a talented athlete.
The tragic incident is the latest in a string of violent attacks on athletes in East Africa. In 2023, Ugandan runner Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead with stab wounds, and in 2021, long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was murdered in her home. Both cases remain under investigation.
