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The shocking death of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Thursday, September 5, 2924 has sparked a wave of outrage and grief in Kenya and across the globe.
The 33-year-old long-distance runner, who had recently represented Uganda in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, succumbed to severe burns after her Kenyan boyfriend allegedly doused her with petrol and set her alight.
Cheptegei’s death, described by many as “senseless” and “despicable,” unfolded in the early hours at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. Dr. Kimani Mbugua, head of the hospital’s intensive care unit, said, “Her injuries were extensive, covering most parts of her body, leading to multiple organ failure. We did our best, but the chance of recovery was slim due to the extent of the burns.”
The attack, which occurred at Cheptegei’s home in Endebess, Trans-Nzoia County, has been attributed to her partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, a Kenyan national. According to police reports, Marangach was also injured in the incident, sustaining burns to 30 percent of his body, though his current condition remains unknown.
Eyewitnesses and the local media reported that Cheptegei’s two young daughters, aged nine and eleven, witnessed the brutal assault. One of the girls recounted the harrowing moments when her mother was attacked. “He kicked me while I tried to run to the rescue of my mother,” she said. “I cried out for help, and a neighbor tried to extinguish the flames with water, but it was too late.”
Cheptegei’s death sent shockwaves through the athletics community and women’s rights groups worldwide, with many condemning the attack. Kenya’s Sports Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, called the incident a “stark reminder” of the urgent need to combat gender-based violence, while Paris Olympics organizers expressed their “profound indignation and sadness.”
Donald Rukare, the chief of the Uganda Olympic Committee, described the attack as “vicious,” saying it was “a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete.” The Kenya National Olympic Committee also mourned the loss, noting that Cheptegei’s “talent and perseverance as Uganda’s Women’s Marathon record holder and a Paris 2024 Olympian will always be remembered and celebrated.”
According to a police report, Marangach sneaked into Cheptegei’s home while she was at church with her children. He allegedly purchased five liters of petrol and hid in a chicken coop, waiting for Cheptegei to return. Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, revealed that the couple had “constant family wrangles,” with property disputes being a major source of conflict. He has called for justice for his daughter, stating, “He poured the petrol and lit her on fire. When she called her sister for help, he threatened her with a machete, forcing her to flee.”
The attack has reignited discussions on domestic violence in Kenya, drawing parallels with other tragic incidents. The latest statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reveal that 34 percent of women in Kenya have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. In 2022 alone, there were 725 femicide cases recorded in the country, the highest number since 2015.
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