Tragedy struck the athletic community with the devastating loss of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei. The 33-year-old champion died in a Kenyan hospital due to severe burns covering 80% of her body. This horrific incident occurred after her partner, Dickson Ndiema, brutally attacked her with petrol, setting her ablaze.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing the couple’s intense argument outside their home, followed by the sound of Ndiema pouring a liquid on Cheptegei before igniting the flames. The police account corroborated this, stating that the boyfriend’s actions were deliberate and malicious.
In a cruel twist of fate, Ndiema also suffered severe burns during the attack and was receiving treatment at the same hospital as Cheptegei. The motive behind the heinous crime appeared to be a dispute over land ownership, specifically the plot where their house was built. Cheptegei’s parents revealed that their daughter had invested in the land to be closer to Kenya’s renowned athletic training centers.
The tragic loss of Rebecca Cheptegei has sent shockwaves through the athletic community, leaving behind a trail of grief and unanswered questions. Her memory will live on through her remarkable achievements and the countless lives she touched throughout her career.
