Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies after petrol attack by ex-boyfriend

Rebecca Cheptegei, a celebrated Ugandan marathon runner who recently competed in the Paris Olympics, has tragically passed away after a horrific attack. The 33-year-old athlete suffered severe burns after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her former boyfriend.

The incident occurred on Sunday as Cheptegei was returning home from church with her two young daughters in north-west Kenya, where she had been living and training.

Authorities reported that the assault was a result of ongoing disputes between Cheptegei and her ex-partner over a piece of land. Cheptegei had purchased property in Trans Nzoia County and built a house to be close to Kenya’s elite athletics training facilities.

Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, expressed profound grief over the loss of his “very supportive” daughter. He has called on the Kenyan government to ensure justice is served. Fellow Ugandan athlete James Kirwa remembered Cheptegei for her generosity, noting her financial support to other runners and her warm, affable nature.

Dr. Kimani Mbugua from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret confirmed that Cheptegei had sustained extensive burns leading to multi-organ failure, which ultimately caused her death early in the morning.

This tragic event highlights the alarming issue of gender-based violence in Kenya. In 2022, a national survey indicated that at least 34% of women in Kenya had experienced physical violence. Kenya’s Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen has emphasized the urgent need to address this crisis, noting that even elite athletes are not immune to such violence.

Cheptegei’s passing has prompted widespread condolences and calls for justice. The Uganda Athletics Federation and British Olympian Eilish McColgan both expressed their sorrow and condemnation of domestic violence. The Uganda Olympic Committee’s Donald Rukare described the attack as a “cowardly and senseless act,” while Cheptegei’s father lamented the inhumanity of the act and prayed for justice.

Cheptegei’s former boyfriend, who was also hospitalized with less severe injuries, remains in intensive care but is reportedly in stable condition. Local police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom confirmed that the altercation was witnessed by neighbors, who saw the ex-partner pouring a flammable liquid on Cheptegei before setting her on fire.

Cheptegei’s death adds to a troubling pattern of violence against female athletes in East Africa, following the murders of Agnes Tirop in 2021 and Damaris Mutua in 2022, both allegedly at the hands of their partners.

Rebecca Cheptegei, who had finished 44th in the marathon at the recent Paris Olympics and won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022, leaves behind a legacy of athletic excellence and a tragic reminder of the need to combat gender-based violence.