Kenyan marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei, who runs for Uganda, has died.
Cheptegei passed away at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where she had been admitted to the ICU. She succumbed to severe burn injuries after an attack by her alleged boyfriend.
“Unfortunately, we lost her after all her organs failed last night,” Dr. Owen Menach, the hospital’s acting director, said.
Rebecca Cheptegei Set on Fire
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday.
Cheptegei had just returned home from church with her children when her alleged boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, attacked her.
According to reports, he snuck into her home with a five-litre jerrican of petrol. He then doused her with the petrol and set her on fire.
Neighbors heard the commotion and rushed to rescue Cheptegei and Marangach, who also sustained burns. Both were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Marangach suffered burns to 30% of his body and remains in the ICU.
Cheptegei’s father, Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, clarified that the two were “just friends” and had been arguing over her land in Endebes, Trans Nzoia, where the attack took place.
“They were just friends, and I wonder why he wanted to take away things belonging to my daughter,” he said.
The two had a pending case under investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Cheptegei leaves behind two children, whose father is a different man living in Uganda.
Mzee Cheptegei mentioned that the two had separated long ago, but on Sunday, Marangach returned to her home and staged the attack.
A full report from the hospital is expected later today.
By Vivian K.