Ugandan Olympian Dies After Ex-Boyfriend Sets Her on Fire

Photo : X / @UgaAthletics2

Endebess, Kenya – Rebecca Cheptegei, the Ugandan marathon runner who competed in the recent Paris Olympics, has tragically died following a horrific attack by her ex-boyfriend. The 33-year-old athlete succumbed to her injuries after Dickson Ndiema Marangach doused her with petrol and set her on fire. This brutal incident, which occurred near her home in Endebess, Kenya, underscores the alarming rise in violence against women in the region.

Cheptegei, who won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand in 2022, was critically injured in the attack that took place as she was returning home from church with her two children. Neighbors rushed to her aid, but she suffered severe burns over 75% of her body. Despite immediate medical attention at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where both Cheptegei and Marangach were treated, she was unable to recover.

A police report detailed that Marangach, having procured petrol, poured it on Cheptegei before setting her alight. Marangach also sustained serious burns from the flames. The severity of Cheptegei's injuries required her to be heavily sedated.

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The Kenyan Bureau of National Statistics reveals that 34% of women in Kenya have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, with married women more likely to suffer abuse. Cheptegei's death tragically highlights the escalating violence against women in Kenya.

This incident follows the recent murders of Kenyan athletes Damaris Mutua and Agnes Tirop, with both cases involving partners as the primary suspects. Tirop's husband faces murder charges, while Mutua's boyfriend remains at large. This growing pattern of violence against female athletes underscores the urgent need for enhanced protection and support for women facing domestic violence.