Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan marathon runner who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, is in critical condition after allegedly being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in Endebess, western Kenya. Cheptegei, 33, is now in the intensive care unit at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, with burns covering more than 75% of her body.
Details of the Attack
According to Kenyan police, the suspect, identified as Dickson Ndiema Marangach, reportedly poured gasoline on Cheptegei and set her ablaze during a domestic dispute. Marangach also suffered burns in the attack, with injuries covering 30% of his body. Both were admitted to the hospital, where Cheptegei remains in critical condition.
Background and Investigation
Police reported that Marangach was an ex-boyfriend who had sneaked into Cheptegei’s home while she was at church with her children. The two had been separated for a long time and were involved in a land dispute, which was due to be addressed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kenya. Police found a gas can and a burnt mobile phone, believed to belong to Cheptegei, at the scene. The investigation is ongoing.
Recent Tragedies Involving Ugandan Athletes in Kenya
This attack on Cheptegei is part of a troubling pattern of violence against athletes in Kenya. Notably, Olympian Benjamin Kiplagat was fatally stabbed in Eldoret on December 31, 2023. In April 2022, Damaris Muthee, a Kenyan-born distance runner who competed for Bahrain, was found strangled in Iten, Kenya. Six months before that, Olympian Agnes Tirop was stabbed to death in the same town.
