Rebecca Cheptegei, a marathon runner from the highlands of western Kenya, tragically lost her life after her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, doused her in petrol and set her on fire.
This shocking incident occurred on Sunday, September 1, just as Rebecca was preparing to attend church.
Earlier that day, Marangach had asked a friend, retired runner Dennis Masai Chepkongin, to lend him a lighter, claiming he had “an emergency” and needed to leave town. Chepkongin, who found the request suspicious, declined. Hours later, Marangach carried out the horrific attack, according to relatives and police reports.
Both Cheptegei and Marangach died in the hospital from severe burns. Marangach was under investigation for murder at the time of his death, according to a police official who requested anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
When reporters visited Cheptegei’s home in the peaceful village of Kinyoro, they found burned earth soaked with gasoline, a testament to the horrific violence. Cheptegei’s 17-year-old sister, Dorcas, who was also attacked with a machete during the assault, sat weeping, her body twisted in pain, or staring blankly into space.
Cheptegei’s death sent shockwaves around the world, especially following her recent participation in the Paris Olympics, where she had represented Uganda. However, her family was not surprised by the tragedy. They revealed to Reuters that Rebecca had long feared for her life due to Marangach’s violent behavior.
Her story sheds light on the dangers faced by female athletes in Kenya’s patriarchal society, where elite runners can earn in one marathon more than what many Kenyans make in a year. Unfortunately, their success often makes them targets for predatory men who seek to control their wealth and assets. Rebecca Cheptegei is the third female athlete in Kenya to have been killed by a romantic partner since 2021.
Cheptegei, a 33-year-old single mother of two, had been the sole breadwinner for her family, which included her parents, a dozen siblings, and her two children, aged 9 and 11. According to her father, Joseph, Rebecca had gone to the police at least three times in the past year to report Marangach’s threats and physical abuse. Despite her efforts to protect herself, the violence escalated to this tragic end.
Her funeral was held in the Bukwo area of Uganda, with full military honors as she was a member of the Ugandan Defense Forces. The tragedy of Rebecca Cheptegei’s death highlights the darker side of athletic success for women in Kenya, where they are often left vulnerable to exploitation and violence, even at the peak of their achievements.
Reported By Meshack Awino.
