The world of athletics is reeling from the horrific passing of Ugandan Olympian athlete Rebecca Cheptegei. The 33-year-old athlete lost her life after suffering severe burns in a petrol attack at her home in Trans Nzoia, allegedly carried out by her former lover, Dickson Ndiema.
The general feeling among athletes training in Iten, one of the hubs churning out long-distance runners, was a sense of relief on Tuesday after the athletes learned that Rebecca’s killer had died from injuries he sustained in the attack.
“I think most of the people are happy now that the gentleman has passed away.” one of the female athletes told Reuters.
Cheptegei, who competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was recovering at the Moi Teaching Referral Hospital alongside Ndiema after a domestic dispute that resulted in burns covering over 75% of her body, eventually leading to her passing on September 5.
Yesterday, the hospital announced that Ndiema had also succumbed to his injuries on Monday evening.
READ: Rebecca Cheptegei: Father Mourns Death of His Beloved Daughter, Family’s Breadwinner
“For the death of the perpetrator, I can say Justice has been done because if he could have been alive and taken to court, perhaps the victim would not have gotten justice. Perhaps he would have raised money and get out of out of police cells and eventually out of jail and at the end of it all, the victim would not get justice.” Mildred Cherrop said.
Rights groups say female athletes in Kenya, where many international runners train in the high altitude highlands, are at high risk of exploitation and violence at the hands of men drawn to their prize money.
The incident has drawn focus to the issue of domestic violence in Kenya, where, according to government data, nearly 34 per cent of girls and women aged 15 to 49 have suffered physical violence.
The couple had a history of domestic violence, as described by Police commander Jeremiah Ole Kosiom who portrayed them as an unstable couple who were frequently engaged in arguments and conflicts.
This story is all too familiar in the region, where numerous high-profile athletes have experienced gender-based violence. Cheptegei’s death is the third incident involving a prominent female athlete since 2021, following Agnes Tirop and Damaris Muthee Mutua.
