A Ugandan Olympic athlete based in Kenya has tragically died after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, marking yet another harrowing case in the growing crisis of domestic violence targeting female athletes in East Africa.
Rebecca Cheptegei, a promising long-distance runner, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday in a hospital in Eldoret, western Kenya. According to her father, Joseph Cheptegei, the family rushed to the hospital at 5:30 a.m. after receiving an urgent call from doctors, but arrived too late to say their goodbyes.
“We are in so much pain,” said Cheptegei’s father. His daughter had repeatedly reported her ex-boyfriend, identified as Dickson Nidema, to the police for domestic violence, including an incident just days before her death. Tragically, the authorities’ failure to act led to the horrific attack.
On Sunday, Nidema attacked Cheptegei in front of her two young daughters, ages 9 and 11. After ambushing her at her home, where she was tending to her chores, Nidema doused her in gasoline and set her alight. The children witnessed their mother’s horrifying final moments as neighbors rushed to extinguish the flames, eventually rolling her in dirt and dousing her in water.
Cheptegei’s father recounted that this was not the first attack. In January, Nidema had attempted to assault her with a machete, but she was saved by her brother. “We reported to the police…but the police did not handle this matter well; they were so slow,” he said.
A local police officer, Paul Songok, confirmed that Cheptegei had filed complaints about Nidema’s threats and violence, but claimed that the most recent case involved a land dispute. Meanwhile, police commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom confirmed that Nidema, who had sustained burns during the attack, was hospitalized under guard. Authorities are now investigating the case.
The incident draws disturbing parallels to previous high-profile murders of female athletes in Kenya. Kenyan runners Agnes Jebet Tirop, 25, and Damaris Muthee Mutua, 28, were both murdered by their partners in recent years. The cases, which occurred near Eldoret, raised awareness about the vulnerability of female athletes, particularly those earning significant income from prizes and sponsorships.
Viola Cheptoo, a marathon runner and activist with the Tirop’s Angels charity, noted that many young female athletes are manipulated by abusive partners, often starting as coaches. “Most of the time, these relationships lead to abuse and manipulation,” she said.
The escalating violence against female athletes raises urgent questions about the protection and justice systems in place to safeguard women in sports. In Cheptegei’s case, systemic failures and inadequate police response ultimately cost her life, adding to the grim list of tragedies within Kenya’s elite running community.
