Rebecca Cheptegei’s Death Highlights Gender-Based Violence

Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, a marathon runner who recently participated in the Paris Olympics, has tragically passed away after being set alight by her boyfriend. This horrifying incident has ignited widespread outrage and brought renewed attention to the persistent problem of gender-based violence in the region.

Key Points:

• Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan Olympian, tragically died after being set on fire by her boyfriend.
• The incident took place in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya, following a domestic altercation.
• Cheptegei suffered burns to 75% of her body and ultimately succumbed to multi-organ failure.
• The tragedy has underscored the ongoing issue of gender-based violence in Kenya and Uganda.

Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, was assaulted by her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, at her residence in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya. Ndiema allegedly poured petrol on her and set her ablaze during a dispute over land. Cheptegei was rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where she was treated for burns covering 75% of her body. Despite the medical team’s best efforts, she died from multi-organ failure.

The Uganda Athletics Federation and the Uganda Olympic Committee have expressed profound grief and condemned the violent act. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach also conveyed his shock and sorrow, stating that Cheptegei’s participation in the Paris Olympics had been a source of inspiration.

Cheptegei’s death marks the third high-profile case of violence against female athletes in Kenya in recent years. In 2021, Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop was found dead with stab wounds, and in 2022, Damaris Mutua was discovered strangled. Both incidents involved intimate partners as the main suspects.

This tragic event has brought attention to the widespread nature of gender-based violence in Kenya and Uganda. Recent statistics indicate that 34% of women in Kenya have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, while in Uganda, 95% of women have endured physical or sexual violence at the hands of a partner or non-partner.

Kenya’s Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen and Uganda’s Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, have called for stronger measures to combat gender-based violence. Amnesty International Kenya has also highlighted the urgent need to address femicide in the country.

Rebecca Cheptegei was not only a distinguished athlete but also a dedicated member of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces. She had a successful career in long-distance running, winning numerous international competitions and representing Uganda in several World Athletics Cross Country Championships. Her untimely death is a devastating loss to the athletics community and her family.