In a shocking incident, a Ugandan athlete residing in Kenya fell victim to a horrific attack by her boyfriend, resulting in severe burns covering 75% of her body. The athlete, who participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics and finished 44th in the competition, was identified as a distance runner named Rebecca Cheptegei. The tragic event unfolded at her residence in Trans Nzoia County, located in western Kenya.
According to the Trans Nzoia County Police Commander, the perpetrator, identified as Dickson Ndiema, allegedly purchased a container of petrol which he then used to set Cheptegei on fire during a dispute that occurred on Sunday. The violent act left both individuals with burn injuries, necessitating specialized medical care at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Reports indicate that Cheptegei had acquired property in Trans Nzoia to be in proximity to the region's numerous athletic training facilities. A local chief's report revealed that the couple was engaged in a heated argument concerning the land where their residence was constructed, leading to the tragic incident.
This distressing incident is not an isolated case within the athletic community. In previous years, there have been similar tragic occurrences involving athletes. In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner Benjamin Kiplagat was discovered deceased with stab wounds, while in 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was found dead, with a postmortem report indicating strangulation as the cause of death.
