Last Sunday, on the very first day of the month, Rebecca Cheptegei was attacked by her former boyfriend, who doused her in petrol and lit her on fire. Following the attack, Cheptegei suffered extensive burns that landed her in a hospital.
It is one of the latest attacks on women in Kenya, a country where such attacks have become a significant concern. In 2022 alone, one national survey saw up to 34% of women in Kenya admit that they have experienced physical violence.
This highlights how crucial it has become to combat gender-based violence. In many countries, it has become a pandemic that has robbed the lives of promising individuals, even in elite sports. Rebecca Cheptegei’s death confirms the latter, and here’s all we know about it.
What Caused Rebecca Cheptegei’s Death?
Rebecca Cheptegei’s death was caused by the extensive injuries she sustained from a man who probably once claimed to love her. At the time of the tragedy, Cheptegei had reportedly been separated from him. And speculation on social media has convinced some that he may have been jealous of her progress as an athlete.
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However, a report filed by a local administrator alleged that Rebecca Cheptegei and her ex-partner had been in dispute over a piece of land. An investigation is underway. The land in question is a plot Cheptegei reportedly bought in Trans Nzoia county. The Olympic medalist built a house on it to get closer to Kenya’s elite athletics training centers.
Neighbors reportedly heard an argument over the land before the attack. Rebecca Cheptegei’s ex-partner allegedly waited for her to return home from church with her two daughters when he targeted her.
In a statement, Rebecca Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, mourned her departure. He described her as a “very supportive” daughter, a sentiment her fellow Ugandan athlete James Kirwa echoed when he praised her generosity.
Did Rebecca Cheptegei Win the Olympics?
Rebecca Cheptegei made it to Paris for the Olympics this year, but she finished 44th in the marathon she ran. However, in 2022, she won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Rebecca Cheptegei’s death comes a few years after the killings of fellow East African athletes Agnes Tirop in 2021 and Damaris Mutua the following year. In both cases, authorities identified their partners as the main suspects. Tirop’s husband has denied the murder charges, and there is a hunt on for Mutua’s boyfriend.
Who Burnt Rebecca Cheptegei?
According to Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah Ole Kosiom, on Monday, September 2, Rebecca Cheptegei was burnt by her former partner, Dickson Ndiema. Kosiom said Ndiema bought a can of gasoline, poured it on her, and set her ablaze amid a disagreement on Sunday, September 1.
Notably, Ndiema also got burned in the fire. But he is slowly recovering, and authorities say he is being treated at the same hospital. Ndiema will live, but Cheptegei has been lost forever. The tragedy has stirred members of the public who demand justice and mourn the loss of Rebecca Cheptegei.
“Today has been a sad moment for me. It has been a sad moment for athletes because it really reminded us [of] the day that Agnes was murdered,” Kenyan athlete Joan Chelimo told the BBC. Chelimo has been linked with Tirop’s Angels, an organization set up to act as a “wake-up call” following Tirop’s murder to address gender-based violence.
“We say we need to unite together as athletes and just try to raise awareness, create a place where women can just come and speak up. But it is still on the rise,” Chelimo added.
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How Old Is Rebecca Cheptegei?
Rebecca Cheptegei was born on February 22, 1991, which means she was 33 at the time of her demise. Her death at the hands of her ex came as a shock to many. It has triggered protests and revealed the disgusting underbelly of misogyny in Kenya.
An estimated 41% of dating or married Kenyan women have experienced physical or sexual violence, according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022. But what is worse is that their current or most recent partner are often the perpetrators.
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