Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Being Set Alight by Ex-Boyfriend
Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend. The 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner, who competed in the Paris Olympics, suffered severe burns from the attack on Sunday in north-west Kenya. The authorities revealed that Cheptegei was targeted following a dispute over land with her ex-partner.
Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, urged the Kenyan government to pursue justice, describing the attack as a senseless act. The Ugandan athletics federation condemned the violence and mourned her loss, highlighting concerns about rising violence against female athletes in Kenya. Cheptegei’s ex-boyfriend, who also suffered burns, remains in intensive care.
Cheptegei’s death follows the recent murders of East African athletes Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, with their partners as primary suspects.
