Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan Olympic marathon runner, has died after sustaining severe burns in an attack allegedly perpetrated by her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 1, 2024, in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya, where Cheptegei resided.
According to local police, Ndiema allegedly doused Cheptegei with gasoline and set her on fire during an argument over land ownership. Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom reported that witnesses heard the couple arguing outside their residence. During this dispute, observers saw the boyfriend pour a liquid substance on the woman before setting her on fire.
Cheptegei suffered burns covering approximately 75% of her body and was rushed to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, for treatment. Despite medical efforts, she died from her injuries on the morning of Thursday, September 5. Dr. Owen Menach, the hospital’s Director of Clinical Services and Surgery, confirmed that Cheptegei’s death was due to “full organ failure.”
The athlete’s family member, Dr. Tony Sabila, also confirmed the tragic news. Joseph Cheptegei, the victim’s father, shared his sorrow with reporters at the medical facility. He spoke of his daughter’s passing, describing her as someone who had been very supportive. He also expressed his desire for justice in the matter.
Cheptegei was a accomplished distance runner who had recently competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing 44th in the women’s marathon. Her athletic achievements included winning gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and securing victory in the Padova marathon in Italy the same year.
The Uganda Athletics Federation expressed deep sorrow regarding Cheptegei’s passing and firmly denounced the incident of domestic violence. They released a statement on their social media platforms, expressing their grief over the loss of their athlete, who died as a result of domestic abuse. The federation strongly condemned such actions and urged for justice to be served in this case.
Ugandan Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare expressed his condolences on social media Thursday, wishing for the peaceful rest of Cheptegei’s soul. He firmly denounced violence against women, describing the act as both cowardly and senseless. Rukare emphasized that this violence resulted in the loss of an exceptional athlete. He affirmed that despite her passing, Cheptegei’s legacy would persist.
The alleged perpetrator, Dickson Ndiema, also sustained burns during the attack and is currently receiving treatment at the same hospital. Dr. Menach reported that Ndiema suffered burns over 30% of his body and remains in the intensive care unit, describing his condition as “improving and stable.”
Local authorities have provided some context for the dispute that led to the fatal attack. A report filed by the local chief indicated that Cheptegei and Ndiema were heard arguing before the incident, over the land where her house was built. Cheptegei’s parents revealed that their daughter had purchased land in Trans Nzoia to be near the county’s numerous athletic training centers.
This devastating event has brought attention to the issue of violence against female athletes in the region. Cheptegei’s death marks the third such killing of an elite female athlete in Kenya within the past three years. In 2022, Kenyan-born distance runner Damaris Muthee, who competed for Bahrain, was found strangled in her home in Iten, Kenya. The previous year, Olympian runner Agnes Tirop, a rising star in Kenya’s athletics scene, was discovered dead in her home with multiple stab wounds to the neck. Her husband was subsequently charged with her murder.
These incidents have highlighted the broader issue of gender-based violence in Kenya. According to a 2022 UN report, African countries collectively recorded the largest number of killings of women, both in absolute terms and relative to the size of the continent’s female population. In Kenya specifically, nearly 34% of girls and women aged 15-49 have reported experiencing physical violence.
In response to these concerning trends, athletes established a group called Tirop’s Angels following Agnes Tirop’s murder. The organization aims to combat domestic violence, recognizing that female athletes are at high risk of exploitation and violence from individuals attracted to their success and financial status.
