In a tragic incident that has shocked the athletic community, Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei was brutally set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya. The attack occurred just weeks after she returned from competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she participated as a distance runner.
Cheptegei, who finished 44th in her event at the Olympics, is currently battling for her life with severe burns covering 75% of her body. The harrowing incident took place at her residence in Trans Nzoia County, a region known for its many athletic training centers, where the athlete had recently purchased land to be closer to her training facilities.
According to Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom, the attack was carried out by Cheptegei’s boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema. Reports indicate that the couple had a heated argument on Sunday, which escalated to a horrifying level. Ndiema allegedly bought a jerrican of petrol, poured it on Cheptegei, and set her ablaze in a fit of rage. The police commander confirmed that Ndiema also sustained burn injuries during the attack. Both Cheptegei and Ndiema are currently receiving specialized care at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret city.
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The cause of the argument is believed to be related to the land Cheptegei had acquired in Trans Nzoia, where the couple had built their home. Neighbors and the local chief reported hearing a fierce dispute between the two over the ownership and use of the property just before the fire broke out.
This horrific incident has drawn attention to the increasing violence faced by athletes in East Africa. It follows the tragic deaths of other prominent athletes, including Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat, who was found dead with stab wounds in 2023, and Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee, who was strangled to death in 2022.
Cheptegei’s family and the broader athletic community are devastated by the incident, as they anxiously await updates on her condition. This attack raises serious concerns about the safety and well-being of athletes, both in their personal lives and within the environments they return to after representing their countries on the global stage.
