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According to Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom, who told journalists (per BBC) what happened, the tragic incident took place following an argument over land, which led to the boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, inflicting harm on her.
Cheptegei had supposedly been targeted when she was on the way home from church with her two children on Sunday.
"The couple were heard quarreling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her," the police chief Kosiom said.
We regret to announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed at the Olympics has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalized at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend pouring petrol and setting fire on her pic.twitter.com/rgnWvgTpkb
— Uganda Athletics Federation (@UgaAthletics2) September 3, 2024
This crime took place in Kenya, where Cheptegei currently resides, but she is originally from a region which is just next to the border in Uganda. As for the argument over property, it is unknown about the details, however, to point out Cheptegei recently purchased a piece of land in Trans Nzoia county and built a house so she could be closer to the many athletic training centers in Kenya.
According to the BBC, "A report filed by a local administrator said the two had been wrangling over the piece of land. Police say an investigation is underway."
The boyfriend also sustained burns from lighting Cheptegei on fire, so they are both currently being treated at a hospital in the town of Edloret.
That is to say, the hospital's senior director of clinical services Dr Owen Benach said that she has been "fully sedated because of the extent of the burns." The doctors are confident in their ability to deal with the condition of Cheptegei having 75% burns, as everyone is hoping and praying she can make a recovery.
I did talk to Kenyan journalist working with @TheStarKenya Matthew Ndanyi filed this report regarding Rebecca Cheptegei
Cheptegei, who represented Uganda in the marathon at thejust concluded Paris Olympics was injured in an attack by her alleged boyfriend in Trans Nzoia county… pic.twitter.com/r2W646zOZg
— Omutegeke | 🇺🇬🎙️ (@CliveKyazze) September 3, 2024
Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, told reporters that he prayed "for justice for my daughter."
Ms Cheptegei represented Uganda at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she finished 44th in the marathon event. Notably, in 2022, she won a gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand.
UPDATE: TEAM UGANDA 🇺🇬 results at the World Mountain and Trail Running C'ship.
Ugandans Rebecca Cheptegei claims gold 🥇in the senior women Classic Up/Down while Annet Chemengich takes silver🥈#WMTRC pic.twitter.com/uPCp75C4XR
— Aisha Nassanga (@AishaSports) November 6, 2022
All in all, in view of the tragedy, many hope for justice, but this is sadly not the only case involving high profile athletes being assaulted in Kenya.
Back in 2022, at 28 years old, Damaris Mutua, was murdered by her partner, as she was found strangled in a home with a pillow over her face in the town of Iten.
Then in that same town, Agnes Tirop, who was a record-breaking long-distance runner, was found stabbed to death by her husband in 2021.
Not to mention, in the town of Eldoret, where Cheptegei is being treated, Ugandan Olympic runner Benjamin Kiplagat was also stabbed to death by attackers on December 31, 2023.
