In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- The family of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei accuses police of negligence, claiming her death could have been avoided.
- Cheptegei was set on fire by the main suspect, Dickson Ndiema, over a land dispute.
The family of the late Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has accused the police of negligence, claiming her death could have been prevented.
Speaking at their home in Trans Nzoia County, Cheptegei’s father shared how local security agencies ignored repeated threats against her from the main suspect, Dickson Ndiema, over a long-standing land dispute.
According to the family, Ndiema not only doused Cheptegei in petrol and set her ablaze, but he also thwarted any attempts by her distraught children to save their mother.
Neighbors recall how Ndiema chased one of Cheptegei’s children with a machete, trying to harm the child when they attempted to intervene.
Everline Chelangat, a neighbor, described the harrowing scene: “When she was burning, she rolled on the grass… but it didn’t help. She removed her sweater, which had a phone in it, and threw it. As he poured more petrol on her, she called for help, but the suspect chased her child, Dorry, with a machete, intending to cut her.”
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Neighbors reported that after the attack, Ndiema fled into a nearby banana plantation, leaving Cheptegei for dead.
The family further alleges that a hospital in Kitale failed to provide timely care for Cheptegei, claiming she went untreated for hours. Chelangat recounted her frustration, saying, “I went to get some medicine and asked the doctor to come and help, but he told me not to rush and not to argue with them. I told him, if you won’t help us, just release the patient to us.”
The family also accused security agencies of failing to act on the athlete’s previous complaints about Ndiema’s threats. Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, expressed his sorrow, saying, “If they had followed the law properly, my daughter wouldn’t have died. He first threatened her by phone, then followed her to Uganda. This was the third time, and now he’s finished her.”
Endebes sub-county police commander Salesioh Muriithi confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
Cheptegei’s tragic death has sparked discussions about the growing issue of gender-based violence among female athletes in Kenya.
In 2021, long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was stabbed to death in Iten, and in 2022, Bahraini athlete Damaris Mutua was also found dead in the same town. In all three cases, the athletes’ partners were identified as the prime suspects.