Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei dies after alleged petrol attack

Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan athlete who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, has died after being allegedly set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya.

The 33-year-old marathon runner was doused in petrol and set ablaze while returning home from church in Trans Nzoia County, Nairobi.

She suffered burns on 80 percent of her body and was taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret City, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

The suspect, identified as Dickson Ndiema, Cheptegei’s boyfriend, was also hospitalized with less severe burns. Authorities reported that the couple had been arguing over a piece of land.

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The Ugandan Athletics Federation (UAF) confirmed Cheptegei’s death on Thursday, expressing deep sorrow and condemning the act as a tragic case of domestic violence.

The federation called for justice, stating, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, early this morning, who tragically fell victim to domestic violence.”

Cheptegei’s death follows similar tragedies in the region, including the 2021 murder of Kenyan athlete Agnes Tirop and the 2022 killing of Damaris Mutua, both allegedly at the hands of their partners.