The father of Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who is being treated in hospital for 80 percent burns, has revealed details about his daughter’s alleged ex-boyfriend who attacked her.
When Cheptegei returned to Kenya after competing in the Paris Olympics, where she represented Uganda in the marathon, she was attacked at her home in western Trans Nzoia County, according to police statements.
Trans Nzoia County police chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom said her former partner, reportedly her ex-boyfriend Dickson Ndiema, bought a can of petrol, poured it on her and set her alight during a disagreement on Sunday.
Her father Joseph Cheptegei, who spoke from the hospital with his other daughter Evalyne Chelagat, claimed the two had a dispute over her land in Endebes in Trans-Nzoia shortly before the alleged attack.
“They were just friends and I wonder why he wanted to take my daughter’s things,” Cheptegei Snr told a Kenyan newspaper. The Starwhich also shows that his daughter’s two children were fathered by another man living in Uganda.
The father of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei (centre), who is being treated in hospital for 80 percent burns, has revealed details about his daughter’s alleged ex-boyfriend who attacked her
Cheptegei, pictured, finished 44th in the women’s marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics
He further alleged that Cheptegei and Ndiema – who he said have been separated for a long time – are involved in a case being investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) in Kenya.
According to Cheptegei Snr and Police Chief Kosiom, the ex-boyfriend sneaked into his daughter’s house to stage the attack.
“It is believed the friend sneaked into the compound around 2pm on Sunday while his wife and children were in church,” Kosiom said, according to Kenyan newspaper The Standard.
When he returned, Dickson, who had fetched gasoline, began pouring gasoline over Rebecca before setting her on fire.
‘The couple were heard arguing outside their home. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her.
‘The suspect was also caught in the fire and suffered serious burns.’
Dr Owen Menach, who is treating Cheptegei at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, has revealed that the athlete is in a critical condition and fighting for her life.
He told The Star that Cheptegei suffered external burns and inhalation burns: “She is a known patient and we are doing everything we can to save her life.”
According to Menach, the alleged ex-boyfriend who attacked him was also admitted to the same hospital with 30 percent burns and is in a more stable condition.
The Uganda Athletics Federation confirmed the attack on social media.
‘We regret to inform you that our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has sustained serious injuries and has been admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
According to the doctor treating her, Cheptegei is in critical condition and fighting for her life.
‘This follows an incident where her Kenyan boyfriend poured petrol over her and set her on fire.’
According to local reports, neighbors helped extinguish the flames. Both were taken to hospital with serious burns.
According to Kenyan newspaper The Nation, police found a five-liter jerry can, a bag and a burnt phone at the scene of the incident.
The local police chief said the couple had been arguing over the land the house was on before the fire broke out.
Cheptegei is said to have bought the land in the Trans Nzoia region, near the Ugandan border, and built a house there.
The house is close to several training centres in Kenya.
Cheptegei finished 44th in the women’s marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games last month.
Cheptegei won the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand
The 33-year-old also won gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead with stab wounds.
In 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was found dead. An autopsy report revealed that she had been strangled in the town of Iten.
Muthee died a few months after two-time world champion Agnes Tirop was found dead in the same city.