The Ugandan marathon runner represented her country at both the Paris Olympics and the World Championships in Budapest
Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei is in critical condition in hospital after allegedly been doused in petrol and set on fire by a former boyfriend.
Rebecca Cheptegei
The 33-year-old, who represented Uganda at the recent Paris Olympics and last year’s World Championships in Budapest, was attacked in her home in Endebess, Western Kenya.
Rebeca Cheptegei suffered burns to 75% of her body and she was reportedly rescued by neighbours when the incident occurred (September 1).
Trans Nzoia County’s police commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom told journalists that the alleged attacker also sustained serious burns.
He added: “The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her.”
A report filed by a local administrator in the region said that the former boyfriend had attacked Cheptegei due to a disagreement over the land in which her home was built on.
After learning of the attack, the Ugandan Athletics Federation stated: “We regret to announce that our athlete Rebecca , who competed at the Olympics has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalised at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend pouring petrol and setting fire on her.”
As well as competing in the marathon at the Olympics and World Championships, Cheptegei also won gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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She is the latest victim in attacks across female athletes in Kenya.
Back in October 2021 Agnes Tirop, who was a double world 10,000m medallist and a previous holder of the women’s-only world 10km record, was found stabbed to death.
In the wake of her killing, Tirop’s Angels was founded – an organisation founded by Kenyan athletes and Tirop’s family – to stand in unity against gender-based violence.
Following the horrifying incident that happened close to Ms. Cheptegei’s Endebess home on Sunday, the 33-year-old has been struggling for her life at a hospital in Kenya, according to AFP. Additionally, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, the attacker, suffered severe burns.
Following the event, Ms. Cheptegi—who took home the gold medal at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand—was rescued by neighbors, according to AFP. Over seventy-five percent of her body was scorched. According to the BBC, the attack happened while Ms. Cheptegei and her two kids were leaving church.
According to a police report released late on Monday, “Dickson, who had procured petrol, began pouring (it) on Rebecca before he set her ablaze,” and he was also hurt by the flames.
Earlier, Ms. Cheptegei was “fully sedated” because of the severity of her injuries, according to Dr. Owen Benach, senior director of clinical services at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where she was receiving treatment along with her suspected attacker.
The attack is a heartbreaking illustration of Kenya’s rising rate of violence against women. As per the data provided by the Kenyan Bureau of National Statistics, 34% of women have been victims of physical violence at some point in their lives, with married women being disproportionately affected.
This tragedy occurs two years following the stabbing death of record-breaking runner Agnes Tirop and the murder of Kenyan athlete Damaris Mutua. Their partners are the main suspects in both cases. Ms Tirop’s husband is facing murder charges, while Ms Mutua’s boyfriend remains at large.
Personal Life
Rebecca Cheptegei was born on the Kenyan side of the Kenya–Uganda border on 22 February 1991 to Joseph and Agnes Cheptegei and was the second of 13 siblings. Bukwo was her ancestral village in Uganda. Later, in order to be nearer to athletic training facilities, she relocated to the Kenyan settlement of Chepkum and purchased real estate there. She was once in a relationship with Dickson Ndiema Marangach and has two children with her estranged husband, Simon Ayeko. After enlisting in the Uganda People’s Defense Force in 2008, she advanced to the rank of sergeant. She belonged to the athletics club there as well.
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