NAIROBI, September 05– Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died days after being set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya. The 33-year-old athlete, who competed in the Paris Olympics, suffered burns to over 75% of her body in the attack that occurred last Sunday.
Cheptegei, who finished 44th in the Olympic marathon, was treated at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. The hospital confirmed that she passed away early Thursday morning due to organ failure. A full report on the circumstances surrounding her death is expected later today.
Kenyan and Ugandan authorities are investigating the case, which has highlighted the increasing violence against women, particularly female athletes, in Kenya. Cheptegei is the third female sportswoman to be killed in the country since October 2021.
Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare expressed sorrow over her death, condemning the attack. “We strongly condemn violence against women,” Rukare stated in a social media post.
Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen described her death as a significant loss for the region, urging action against gender-based violence. “This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to combat gender-based violence,” he said.
Recent data from Kenya shows that nearly 34% of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, with married women particularly vulnerable. Cheptegei’s death follows the 2021 murder of Kenyan Olympian Agnes Tirop, whose husband is currently facing trial.
This alarming trend has prompted initiatives like ‘Tirop’s Angels’, a non-profit formed by former athletes to fight domestic violence and support vulnerable female athletes. Joan Chelimo, a founder of the organization, emphasized that many female athletes fall victim to predators posing as lovers, who exploit their success and finances.
As the investigation continues, Cheptegei’s death serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by women, even within elite sports circles. Uganda’s athletics federation has called for justice to be served in her case.
