The funeral for Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan Olympic runner who tragically died after being set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya, will be held on September 14 in her home country. The 33-year-old marathoner, who competed in the Paris Olympics last month, succumbed to severe burns on Thursday after the brutal attack at her home in western Kenya.
According to Beatrice Ayikoru, secretary general of the Uganda Olympic Committee, the funeral will take place in Kongasis sub-county, Bukwo district, located on the border with Kenya in eastern Uganda.
Cheptegei’s death has sparked widespread anger and sorrow, marking yet another case of gender-based violence in Kenya. Her children, aged nine and 11, witnessed the horrific attack. The suspected assailant, Cheptegei’s partner, is currently receiving treatment for serious burns sustained during the incident.
Tributes have poured in for Cheptegei, who held Uganda’s women’s marathon record and served as a sergeant in the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces. The city of Paris has announced plans to name a sports venue in her honor, while World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described her death as a tragic loss.
The incident has heightened awareness of domestic violence in Kenya, prompting calls for stronger measures to combat gender-based violence. The United Nations condemned her “violent murder,” emphasizing the global issue of gender-based violence as a pressing human rights violation.