The father of Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei has spoken out following her death.
Cheptegei was allegedly doused with gasoline and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend during an argument at her home last weekend. She has since died from her injuries.
The 33-year-old, who finished 44th in the marathon at the Paris Olympics last month, suffered burns to 80 percent of her body in Sunday’s brutal attack, medical officials said.
She was rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, but was pronounced dead in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Her father, Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, has spoken out after her passing and paid tribute to his late daughter, saying his family was dependent on her success.
The father of Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei (pictured) has spoken out about his daughter’s death
Cheptegei died after she was allegedly doused with gasoline and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend
Her father, Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, has revealed that his family will struggle to cope with his daughter’s death
“I lost a daughter who helped me in many ways,” he said through The Star“We have children in high schools and I don’t know how we are going to address this challenge and make sure they finish their education.”
He also called on the government to speed up the investigation and ensure that the perpetrator is punished.
“From the day we lost her, the government has been slow to investigate the case,” he added. “We have reported the matter to the police but still no action has been taken.”
Dr. Owen Menach, who oversaw Cheptegei’s treatment in the hospital’s intensive care unit, released a statement shortly after her death.
“It is sad that we lost the patient early this morning after all her organs failed around 5am while we were doing our utmost to save her life,” Menach said.
Dr Tony Sabila, a relative, confirmed that he was at Cheptegei’s bedside when she passed away.
“It is true that we lost our sister this morning, despite the doctors trying to save her life and me being there personally,” he said.
Cheptegei’s death was confirmed four days after she was allegedly set on fire by her former partner, named by police as Dickson Ndiema.
Mzee Joseph Cheptegei also urged the government to speed up their investigation into the man’s death.
Kenyan police confirmed that the jogger was attacked at her home in the western Trans Nzoia County
Kenyan police confirmed that the runner was attacked at her home in the western Trans Nzoia County, near the Ugandan border, where she had recently moved to be closer to Kenya’s better training facilities.
Trans Nzoia County police chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom said her former partner Dickson Ndiema bought a can of petrol, poured it over her and set her alight during a dispute on Sunday.
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.
A UOC press release signed by Rukare later called on law enforcement agencies to “take swift and decisive action to bring the perpetrator to justice.”
Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, who spoke from hospital earlier this week 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 said. The Starand he also reveals that his daughter’s two children were fathered by another man living in Uganda.
He further alleged that Cheptegei and Ndiema, who he said had been separated for a long time, were involved in a case being investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) in Kenya.
The president of the Ugandan Olympic Committee called the events “a cowardly and senseless act”
Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) President Donald Rukare wrote in a message on X on Thursday: “We have learned of the sad passing of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei… following a violent attack by her boyfriend.
“This was a cowardly and senseless act that resulted in the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will live on,” he added.
According to Menach, the alleged ex-boyfriend who attacked him was also admitted to the same hospital with 30 percent burns.