In a shocking and devastating turn of events, Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has succumbed to injuries after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, during a disagreement over a land dispute.
The 33-year-old marathon runner passed away on Wednesday night at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, where she was being treated for severe burns.
According to police reports, Ndiema bought a can of petrol, poured it on Cheptegei, and set her on fire during a heated argument at their home in Trans Nzoia, Kenya.
Ndiema also sustained burn wounds and was admitted to the same hospital.
Cheptegei’s parents revealed that their daughter had purchased land in Trans Nzoia to be near Kenya’s many athletic training centers.
However, the couple’s disagreement over the land allegedly led to the tragic incident.
The Ugandan Athletics Federation expressed their deepest condolences over Cheptegei’s passing, condemning the act of domestic violence that led to her death.
“As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace,” they said in a statement.
Donald Rukare, Uganda’s Olympic Committee chief, also spoke out against the senseless act of violence, saying, “May her gentle soul rest in peace, and we strongly condemn violence against women. This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure.”
Cheptegei was a talented athlete who had represented Uganda at several international competitions, including the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she finished 44th in the marathon.
She had also finished 14th in the marathon at the 2023 World Championships.
Background
The incident occurred on Sunday, when Cheptegei and Ndiema got into an argument over the land dispute.
According to eyewitnesses, the couple was heard fighting before the fire started. Cheptegei’s parents reported that their daughter had been planning to build a house on the land, but Ndiema had been opposed to the idea.
The local chief filed a report stating that the couple’s disagreement over the land had been ongoing for some time, and that Cheptegei had been trying to resolve the issue amicably.
BY Daniel Bampoe