Skip to main content Skip to footer 
Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner who competed in the Paris Olympics, has died after being set on fire by her former boyfriend. The tragic incident occurred in north-west Kenya, where Cheptegei had been living and training. She suffered extensive burns following an attack after returning from church with her two daughters.
Authorities have reported that Cheptegei and her ex-partner were in a dispute over land. Despite medical efforts, Dr. Kimani Mbugua from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital said the severe burns led to multi-organ failure, resulting in her death. Cheptegei’s former boyfriend is also being treated for burns but is in stable condition.
Her death has sparked outrage, with many calling for justice. “We have lost our breadwinner,” said her father, Joseph Cheptegei, while athletes and officials across Uganda and Kenya mourned the loss of a generous and beloved figure in the sports community.
Cheptegei’s murder highlights the ongoing issue of gender-based violence in Kenya, where 34% of women reported physical violence in 2022. Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen and Uganda’s Sports Minister Peter Ogwang condemned the act, with the latter making arrangements for Cheptegei’s body to be returned to Uganda for burial.
This tragedy follows similar cases of domestic violence involving East African athletes Agnes Tirop in 2021 and Damaris Mutua in 2022, further underscoring the urgent need for action against violence targeting women, particularly in sports.
