Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has passed away after suffering severe burns in a suspected attack by her boyfriend, CBS News reports.
Cheptegei, 33, passed away Thursday morning due to organ failure, four days after being set ablaze by her partner, Dickson Ndiema, during a dispute over land.
The incident occurred on Sunday when the couple, who lived together, engaged in an argument outside their home. Witnesses reported hearing shouting and seeing Ndiema pour gasoline on Cheptegei before setting her alight.
Both Cheptegei and Ndiema sustained burns and were transported to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, western Kenya.
The Ugandan Olympic Committee has condemned the attack, calling it “cowardly and deplorable” and urging law enforcement to swiftly bring Ndiema to justice.
Cheptegei, who placed 44th in the marathon at the recent Paris Olympics, is the third high-profile female athlete in Kenya to die under violent circumstances in recent years.
In October 2021, Olympic runner Agnes Tirop was killed by her husband, who is currently on trial for her murder. The death of Damaris Mutua, another elite Kenyan runner, at the hands of her partner was reported six months prior to Tirop’s tragic death.
These incidents have sparked growing concerns about the prevalence of violence against women in Kenya. A report published by Kenya’s Bureau of National Statistics earlier this year revealed that 34% of women in the country had experienced physical violence after the age of 15, with married women facing a much higher risk of violence.
