Tragedy has struck as Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who was set on fire by her Kenyan boyfriend, has died. Cheptegei passed away at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, where she had been fighting for her life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Dr. Owen Menach, the acting Director of MTRH, confirmed her death, citing multiple organ failure as the cause. “Unfortunately, we lost her after all her organs failed last night,” Dr. Menach said, adding that a detailed medical report will be provided later.
Cheptegei, who had sustained severe burns covering 80% of her body, was the victim of a horrific attack in which her boyfriend allegedly doused her in petrol and set her ablaze. The burns inflicted devastating damage to her organs, leading to her untimely death.
Her attacker, identified as Dickson Ndiema Marangach, also suffered injuries during the incident. He is currently being treated in the same ICU with burn injuries covering 30% of his body.
The brutal attack occurred last Sunday when Marangach sneaked into Cheptegei’s home armed with a five-litre jerrycan of petrol. According to reports, Cheptegei had just returned from church with her children when the suspect poured petrol on her and set her on fire.
Neighbours, alarmed by the commotion, managed to rescue both Cheptegei and Marangach, rushing them to the hospital in critical condition. They were later transferred to MTRH for specialized treatment.
The athlete’s father, Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, clarified that his daughter and Marangach were not in a romantic relationship but had been acquaintances for some time. He suggested that the dispute between the two stemmed from a disagreement over land ownership in Endebes, Trans Nzoia, where the attack took place.
“They were just friends, and I don’t understand why he would try to take things belonging to my daughter,” Mzee Cheptegei remarked.
He also revealed that the two had been involved in a legal dispute over the land, which was being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID). The athlete, a mother of two, had separated from Marangach long ago. Her children’s father, according to Mzee Cheptegei, resides in Uganda.
As investigations continue, the tragic loss of Rebecca Cheptegei has sent shockwaves through her family and the sports community.
