Ugandan Olympic Athlete Rebecca Chepetegi Murdered, Authorities Suspect Former Partner

Ugandan Olympic Athlete Rebecca Chepetegi Murdered, Authorities Suspect Former Partner

Jamie Jules

Staff Writer

Olympic officials and committees mourn the loss of 33-year-old athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who recently represented Uganda in the women’s marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Cheptegei died on September 5 from severe burn injuries sustained in an alleged act of domestic violence, which resulted in organ failure despite efforts by a hospital in Kenya to save her life. PBS reports that the late athlete suffered burns covering 80 percent of her body. Local Kenyan authorities suspect her former partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, of dousing Cheptegei in gasoline and setting her aflame, according to NBC.

NBC further discloses that the fatal attack occurred on Sunday once the late athlete and her two daughters returned from church. While the investigation is ongoing, NBC’s findings correspond with eyewitness reports recorded the night of the crime by Kenyan media. According to Al Jazeera, Marangach kicked one of Cheptegei’s children, who called for immediate aid and tried to defend her mother during the assault. By the time a neighbor arrived with water to put out the fire, it couldn’t be extinguished, thus further engulfing her mother. 

However, Marangach did not flee the scene unscathed. Al Jazeera reveals that the alleged perpetrator received intensive care at the same hospital Cheptegei was being treated for burns covering over 30 percent of his body and died five days after Chaptegei, reports NBC.

In another article published by PBS, the late Olympian’s parents provide further insight that may explain why the tragedy unfolded. Their daughter purchased land to build a new home in Trans Nzoia, bringing her closer to the athletic training centers in Kenya. The source later mentions that a local chief was notified of fighting over the land before the dispute escalated into an attack.

Cheptegei’s death left a void in the athletic community, two children orphaned, and a family without much of the support they initially received from her successful, yet short-lived, career. Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, must somehow find the means to support her daughters’ education, according to CBS.

As tragic as her death was, this sort of violent crime is not an isolated incident. In fact, Chepetegi is one of several female athletes in East Africa to have lost their lives to domestic violence. Reuters reports another high-profile case involving a female athlete, which occurred in October 2021. The victim, Agnes Tirop, was also an Olympian runner from Kenya who is believed to have been murdered at the hands of her partner. Tirop’s husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was charged for stabbing and ultimately killing Tirop in her own home. Rotich did not admit to any crimes. Justice has yet to be served as the investigation continues. 

The young athlete’s death sparked outrage and prompted action, as a non-profit organization named in her honor was founded to respond to soaring rates of domestic violence. Fellow athletes founded Tirop’s Angels one year after her murder. One founder, Joan Chelimo, shared her thoughts with Reuters on the grave matter, arguing that female athletes risked being targeted and exploited by men for their money. She further adds these men trap these vulnerable women in relationships.

Furthermore, Reuters provides data that supports Chelimo’s statements. According to government data released in 2022, 34 percent of Kenyan girls and women aged 15 to 49 experience physical violence. Married women find themselves at great risk. Additionally, in a 2022 report by the United Nations Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, African countries ranked the highest in number of killings of women overall and relative to their female populations.

The tragedy inflicted upon Cheptegei drew immediate attention from leading officials. BBC addresses Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s plan to dedicate a sports venue after the late athlete to keep her memory alive and promote equality. CBS reports that Uganda honored Cheptegei with a military funeral, which thousands of Ugandans attended. The Uganda Olympic Committee and Uganda Athletics Federation offer their condolences to the Cheptegei family, according to Al Jazeera.

International communities and organizations stand in solidarity with the late Rebecca Cheptegei and advocate for the end of domestic violence.

Image courtesy of Getty Images