(Eldoret, Kenya) – The tragic death of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has sparked grief and outrage, bringing renewed attention to the widespread issue of gender-based violence in Kenya. Cheptegei, a 33 year old marathon runner, was brutally attacked in her home in Endebess, near the Ugandan border, on September 1. Her attacker, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, 32, set her on fire, leading to fatal injuries. Cheptegei suffered burns on 80% of her body and passed away shortly after the attack.
Marangach, who also sustained burns during the assault, was taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where he succumbed to his injuries on Monday. The hospital reported that he developed respiratory failure due to severe burns and sepsis, leading to his death.
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, expressed his frustration with the authorities, blaming the police for not responding quickly enough to his daughter’s prior complaints about Marangach. “I blame the police for taking too long to act when we had repeatedly sought their intervention,” he said, reflecting the family’s sense of helplessness in the face of the attack.
Local media reports indicate that Cheptegei’s two young daughters witnessed the horrific event. According to the family, Cheptegei had been arguing with Marangach over the ownership of the home where she lived with her sister, Dorcas Cherop, and her daughters. Cherop, who was present during the assault, described the terrifying scene to the press, recalling how she tried to save her sister by covering her with a blanket. However, Marangach reportedly threatened her with a machete, preventing her from intervening.
Despite the shock and pain caused by the incident, Cheptegei’s father expressed a sense of closure following the death of her attacker. “We consider his case as justice delivered,” he told AFP, though he noted that the family is now focused on laying their daughter to rest. Cheptegei is scheduled to be buried on Saturday near her family home in eastern Uganda, according to the Ugandan Olympic Committee.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation, with many seeing it as yet another tragic example of gender-based violence in Kenya, a country where such incidents are alarmingly common. In 2022 alone, Kenya recorded 725 cases of femicide, according to United Nations statistics. A recent report by Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 34% of women in Kenya have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
Cheptegei’s death is the latest in a series of fatal domestic violence cases involving Kenyan athletes. Since 2021, at least two other prominent female athletes, Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, have lost their lives to domestic violence. Tirop, a world-record-breaking runner, was found stabbed to death in her home, and Mutua was killed by her partner in a separate incident.
The growing concern over violence against women in Kenya has led to increased calls for action, with many urging the government to do more to protect women and punish perpetrators. Cheptegei’s case, like those before her, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers women continue to face, even those who have achieved international success.
| Gender-Based Violence in Kenya | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Femicide cases in 2022 | 725 |
| Women experiencing physical violence since age 15 | 34% |
