Ugandan Runner Rebecca Cheptegei Critically Injured in Violent Attack

Tragic Incident Involving Ugandan Long-Distance Runner

A Ugandan long-distance runner, Rebecca Cheptegei, who recently competed in the Paris Olympics, has suffered severe injuries following a horrific attack in Kenya. Authorities report that a man, identified as Dickson Ndiema, who was in a relationship with her, poured gasoline on her and set her ablaze on Sunday.

Rebecca, 33, is currently in critical condition at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital located in Eldoret, Kenya. She has sustained burns covering 80 percent of her body, according to Dr. Owen Menach, a medical professional at the facility.

The police, led by Jeremiah Ole Kosiom, the commander of Trans Nzoia County in Kitale, revealed that Mr. Ndiema secretly entered Rebecca’s residence with a jerrycan filled with gasoline before launching the brutal attack. The confrontation reportedly stemmed from a property dispute, which prompted Ms. Cheptegei to file a police report prior to the incident. As of now, no arrests have been made.

In the course of the attack, Mr. Ndiema also sustained burns to 30 percent of his body. This tragic event has raised alarm, particularly given Rebecca’s status as a professional athlete. She represented Uganda in the marathon at the Paris Olympics in August, finishing in 44th place. Her qualification for the Olympic marathon came after she achieved a personal best time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 47 seconds at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Marathon. Additionally, in 2022, she triumphed in the Up and Downhill race at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships held in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Sadly, Rebecca Cheptegei is not the only female athlete to have faced violence in recent years, igniting crucial conversations about gender-based violence across various African nations. In a shocking case from 2021, Agnes Jebet Tirop, a Kenyan long-distance runner who competed in the Tokyo Olympics and set multiple world records, was found stabbed to death in her home. Her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was charged with her murder but has pleaded not guilty. Just the following year, another athlete, Damaris Muthee Mutua, originally from Kenya and competing for Bahrain, was discovered strangled in Iten, Kenya.

Protests have erupted across Kenya in response to the alarming rise in femicides, demanding that officials take decisive action to combat gender-based violence. Women’s rights advocates have attributed the increase in these tragic incidents to economic pressures and the impacts of coronavirus lockdowns, asserting that authorities and leadership have not adequately addressed these critical issues.

According to the United Nations, Africa recorded an estimated 20,000 gender-related killings of women in 2022, marking the region with the highest rate of femicide globally. The alarming trend extends beyond individuals, as another Ugandan runner, Benjamin Kiplagat, was fatally stabbed last year on New Year’s Eve. Mr. Kiplagat, 34, had a distinguished career, having competed in three Olympic Games, specializing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

This devastating situation highlights the urgent need for greater awareness and action against gender-based violence in the region.