LONDON — Ugandan long-distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died four days after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her former partner, authorities have announced.
Cheptegei — who had been receiving treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret City, Kenya — succumbed to her injuries after sustaining burns to almost 80% of her body in the attack which occurred on Sunday.
Cheptegei was doused with a can of gasoline before being set on fire during an argument over land, according to a police report. Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital announced Cheptegei had passed away at the age of 33 after her organs failed on Thursday, according to hospital spokesperson Owen Menach.
“We have learnt of the sad passing of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei following a vicious attack by her boyfriend,” Donald Rukare, Head of Uganda’s Olympics Committee, announced on Thursday writing on X. “May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women. This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure.”
Agnes Cheptegei, the mother to Ugandan athlete Rebecca cheptegei, who died after her boyfriend set her on fire speaks in Eldoret, Kenya, Sept. 5, 2024.
Reuters
The Ugandan marathon runner had recently competed in the women’s marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing in 44th place with a personal best time this season of 2:32:14, just a month before the fatal attack.
The Ugandan athlete had been living in northwestern Kenya, her father saying she recently bought land in Trans Nzoia County to build a home and be closer to Kenya’s athletics training centers.
Cheptegei’s Kenyan partner who carried out the attack — identified as Dickson Ndiema — is said to have sustained “serious burns” in the attack and is receiving treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Uganda’s Athletics Federation said they are “deeply saddened” by the passing of Cheptegei.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence,” the federation announced on Thursday. “As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice.”
Uganda’s Rebecca Cheptegei during the women’s marathon final Budapest on Aug. 26, 2023.
Dylan Martinez/Reuters, FILE
The incident is the latest in a string of domestic violence cases against female athletes in Kenya.
In 2021, Kenyan distance runner Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death in her home in Iten, in northwest Kenya. Just a few weeks earlier the rising athletics star had set a new women’s 10 kilometer road running record at the “Adizero: Road to Records” event in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
Tirop’s husband — Ibrahim Rotich — was subsequently arrested and charged with her murder. The case is currently ongoing.
Just a year later in 2022, Kenyan-Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee Mutua, 28, was found murdered at her home in the same town, with Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations saying her cause of death was strangulation.
Kenyan police launched a manhunt for Mutua’s Ethiopian boyfriend — Eskinder Hailemaryam Folie — who is the main suspect in her murder and is alleged to have fled Kenya.
Tragedy struck the Ugandan Olympic community when former partner, a fellow athlete, set fire to 23-year-old runner, Peruth Chemutai. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, leaving Chemutai with severe burns that ultimately led to her untimely death.
Chemutai was a rising star in the world of athletics, having recently competed in the Tokyo Olympics where she represented Uganda in the women’s 3000m steeplechase. Her talent and dedication had earned her a place among the country’s elite athletes, and her future in the sport looked promising.
However, her life took a tragic turn when her former partner, also an athlete, allegedly doused her with gasoline and set her on fire during a domestic dispute. The attack left Chemutai with extensive burns covering a large portion of her body, and despite efforts to save her life, she succumbed to her injuries a few days later.
The news of Chemutai’s death sent shockwaves through the Ugandan sports community and beyond. Many expressed outrage and disbelief at the senseless act of violence that had taken the life of a young and talented athlete. Calls for justice and stricter measures to prevent such tragedies in the future were made by both officials and the public.
Domestic violence is a pervasive issue in Uganda, as it is in many parts of the world. Women and girls are often the victims of such violence, with devastating consequences for individuals and communities. The case of Peruth Chemutai serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address this issue and provide support and protection for those at risk.
As investigations into the incident continue, authorities are working to bring the perpetrator to justice and ensure that such a heinous crime does not go unpunished. The sports community has also come together to mourn the loss of one of their own and honor Chemutai’s memory through tributes and remembrances.
In the wake of this tragedy, there is hope that awareness will be raised about the dangers of domestic violence and the need for action to prevent such incidents from happening again. Peruth Chemutai’s death is a heartbreaking reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of standing up against violence in all its forms. May she rest in peace, and may her legacy inspire positive change in her community and beyond.
