Man Accused of Killing Ugandan Olympic Runner in Gasoline Attack Dies

In Kenya, crimes against women have grown to be a serious problem. In 2022, a nationwide poll revealed that at least 34% of women reported having been victims of physical abuse.

Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei passed away a few days after her ex-boyfriend immersed her in petrol and set her on fire. Following the attack on Sunday, the 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner - who recently participated in the Olympics in Paris suffered from severe burns.

Rebecca Cheptegei

Cheptegei lived and received training in northwest Kenya; according to the local authorities, she was targeted when she and her two girls came home from church. Cheptegei purchased a property in Trans Nzoia County and constructed a home close to Kenya's top training facilities for athletes, which is thought to be from a region close to the Ugandan border.

The 33-year-old Cheptegei was attacked last Sunday at her home in western Kenya. Her death was declared on Thursday. According to reports, she had burns over 75%–80% of her body, with 30% of those burns coming from Marangach.

Statements on this Incident

According to her father, Joseph Cheptegei, he lost a "very supportive" daughter. Another Ugandan racer, James Kirwa, spoke with the BBC about her donations and how she had provided financial support to other athletes.

The incident, according to Kenya's Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen, "is an eye-opener of the urgent need to address violence against women, which negatively impacts even top sports."

The UN secretary-general's representative, Stephane Dujarric, is cited by the AFP news agency as stating, "We join the UN Population Fund and UN Women in strongly condemning this violent murder."

Hospital Scenario

At Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Dr Kimani Mbugua, a consultant, told the local press that although the athlete's injuries were treated to the best of their ability, she "had a high percentage of burns, which sadly caused the multiple organ failure, which ended up leading to her passing this morning at 05:30.

Speaking to reporters outside the medical facility where she had received care, Mr Cheptegei requested that the Kenyan government see to it that his daughter's death was handled properly.

He added, "We have lost our breadwinner," and expressed concern over how her two young kids would "move on with their education."

Kirwa described Cheptegei as "a very friendly person." She visited her in the hospital and frequently exercised with her. Upon returning from the Olympics, she got my training shoes and helped all of us, even monetarily. I thought of her as my elder sister.

Police Involvement

Local police chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom had informed media at the time, "The couple in the little town of Endebess was heard fighting outside their home. The lover was witnessed covering the woman in liquid during the fight before setting her on fire”.

At Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, Dickson Ndiema Marangach was also declared dead on Monday night after suffering burns over 40% of his body in the same horrifying attack he started.

Before both of them received treatment at the same Eldoret City hospital, Marangach allegedly poured petrol on Cheptegei and was burnt in the fire, according to police who were going to accuse him of murder. Days apart and weeks after Cheptegei's 2024 Olympic competition, the two passed away.