A Disturbing Pattern

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Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei died in a Kenyan hospital Thursday, days after being allegedly set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, an attack that highlighted concerns about domestic violence targeting female athletes and the issue of femicide in the country, the New York Times reported.

Cheptegei sustained burns over 80 percent of her body after Dickson Ndiema allegedly poured gasoline on her and set her on fire during a property dispute earlier this week. She was rushed to a hospital in the city of Eldoret in the country’s west. Doctors treated her in intensive care but she later succumbed to multiple organ failure.

Ndiema – who suffered burns to 30 percent of his body in the attack – is being treated at the same hospital and will face murder charges once he recovers, according to police.

Cheptegei was a celebrated long-distance runner, who had competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics last month. She also held the Ugandan marathon record with a personal best of 2:22:47, achieved at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Marathon.

Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, revealed that he had reported Ndiema’s intimidating behavior to police prior to the attack, but felt authorities had ignored his concerns.

World Athletics – the international governing body for the sport – expressed shock and sorrow over her death and called the need for urgent action to protect female athletes from abuse.

The case also sparked outrage from women’s rights groups over the issue of violence against women in Kenya and other African nations. Advocates also pointed out that successful female athletes, in particular, are often targeted by partners seeking control over their wealth and assets, the Associated Press noted.

In 2021, Agnes Jebet Tirop, a Kenyan world record holder, was stabbed to death by her husband. About a year later, Bahrain-based runner Damaris Muthee Mutua was strangled by her partner.