Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei passes away after being set ablaze by boyfriend

• Cheptegei, a Kenyan citizen, represented Uganda in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she finished 44th in the women’s marathon.

• On Sunday, a tragic incident occurred at her residence in Western Trans Nzoia County, Nairobi, according to authorities.

• The couple is accused of a domestic dispute where Ndiema allegedly set Cheptegei on fire, causing severe burns covering 75% of her body.

Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has tragically passed away, just days following an incident in which her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, allegedly set her on fire.

Cheptegei, who lived in Kenya, represented Uganda at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing 44th in the women’s marathon event.

Authorities have reported that the incident occurred at her residence in Western Trans Nzoia County, Nairobi, on Sunday.

It is claimed that a domestic dispute escalated, leading Ndiema to douse Cheptegei with petrol and ignite her, resulting in severe burns that affected 75% of her body.

Ndiema also sustained burn injuries and is currently receiving specialized care at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

The altercation is believed to have stemmed from a disagreement regarding land ownership, with Cheptegei’s parents indicating that she had acquired the land to be nearer to the region’s renowned athletic training facilities.

Her passing follows the tragic murder of Kenya’s Agnes Tirop, who was found stabbed to death in her home in Iten in 2021, with her husband identified as the primary suspect.