Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei is in critical condition in a Kenyan hospital after allegedly being doused with petrol and set on fire by her former boyfriend.
The 33-year-old athlete, who competed in the recent Paris Olympics, suffered extensive burns during the incident that occurred at her home in Endebess, western Kenya.
According to local police, Cheptegei was attacked on Sunday while returning home from church with her two children. Witnesses reported hearing the couple arguing outside their residence before the alleged attacker, identified as Dickson Ndiema, poured a flammable liquid on her and ignited it. Neighbors rushed to her aid and helped extinguish the flames.
Cheptegei has sustained burns covering more than 75% of her body and is currently receiving treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
The hospital’s senior director of clinical services, Dr. Owen Benach, confirmed that she has been fully sedated due to the severity of her injuries.
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The incident has raised serious concerns about the rising violence against female athletes in Kenya. This attack follows a troubling trend, with several female athletes in the region having been victims of violence in recent years.
In April 2022, another runner, Damaris Mutua, was found strangled in her home, and just months earlier, record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was murdered.
Cheptegei incident troubles family
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, expressed his hopes for justice for his daughter as the investigation continues.
The couple reportedly had a dispute over a piece of land Cheptegei had purchased in Trans Nzoia County, where she had built a house to be closer to training facilities.
As authorities investigate the incident, the athletic community in both Uganda and Kenya is left grappling with the implications of such violence against female athletes.
