Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei In Critical Condition After Lover Allegedly Sets Her On Fire

• Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei had reportedly gone to church with her two children on Sunday, September 1, when her lover sneaked into her home
• Upon returning from church, she found the man, Dickson Ndiema, waiting for her with a jerry can of petrol
• The two were involved in an argument before Cheptegei's partner doused her with petrol and set her ablaze

Trans Nzoia - Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is in critical condition at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital after her lover allegedly set her on fire at her home in Trans Nzoia county.

Why did Cheptegei's lover set her on fire?

Preliminary reports indicate the two frequently quarrelled over a house and a plot of land.

Area chief Rose Chebet told the Monitor that Cheptegei's lover, identified as Dickson Ndiema, sneaked into her home on Sunday, September 1, while she was at church with their two children.

When Cheptegei returned home, she found Ndiema, who had already bought petrol, waiting for her. An argument ensued, leading to Ndiema pouring petrol on her and setting her on fire.

"When she returned home, Dickson, who had procured petrol, began pouring on Rebecca before he set her ablaze,” Chebet said.

In a troubling turn of events, her boyfriend also caught fire while attempting to ignite the match to set Cheptegei on fire.

Neighbours rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire.

The two were taken to Kitale Referral Hospital before being transferred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital due to the severity of their burns.

At the scene, police found a yellow jerry can, a black mavin believed to belong to Ndiema, and a burnt mobile phone thought to be Cheptegei's.

What races did Cheptengei participate in?

Cheptegei competed at the just concluded Paris Olympics, finishing 44th in the women’s marathon.

The 33-year-old’s best result came at the 2022 Padova Marathon, where she finished first and won a gold medal.

Kenyan-born Ugandan athlete found dead in Eldoret

Cheptegei’s case is not the first instance of violence against an athlete. Earlier, the East African athletics community mourned the death of a Ugandan runner in Eldoret, Kenya.

Moiben Sub-County Police Commander Stephen Okal said a team of officers had been sent to investigate the suspected murder of athlete Benjamin Kiplagat.

Okal confirmed that Kiplagat's body was found with a deep knife wound on his neck inside his brother's car in Texas, near Kimumu Secondary School along Eldoret-Iten Road.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke