Rebecca Cheptegei, the Ugandan athlete who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, has tragically passed away just days after a harrowing incident at her home in Western Trans Nzoia County, Nairobi. The 25-year-old, who finished 44th in the women’s marathon, was severely burned in an attack allegedly perpetrated by her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema.
Authorities report that the incident occurred following a domestic dispute on Sunday. Ndiema reportedly doused Cheptegei in petrol and set her on fire, resulting in burns covering 75% of her body. Ndiema himself sustained injuries and is receiving treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
The dispute is believed to have been sparked by a disagreement over land ownership. Cheptegei’s family revealed that she had recently purchased land to be closer to the region’s renowned athletic training facilities.
