Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is dead. She died at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Dr Owen Menach, the MTRH acting director, confirmed that she succumbed to burn injuries after a fire attack by her alleged boyfriend.
“Unfortunately, we lost her after all her organs failed last night,” said Dr Menach
Cheptegei sustained 80% burn injuries after her boyfriend set her on fire. Most of her organs were damaged after the incident.
The alleged boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, was also admitted to the ICU at the same hospital as he sustained 30% burn injuries.
On Sunday, Marangach reportedly entered Cheptegei’s residence carrying a five-litre Jerrican filled with petrol.
Cheptegei had taken their children to church, and upon her return, Marangach poured the petrol on her and set her on fire.
Neighbours intervened amidst the commotion and rescued the pair, rushing them to the hospital in critical condition.
They were later transferred to MTRH. Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, the athlete’s father, clarified that the two had been friends for some time and stated that they had been quarrelling over her land in Endebes, Trans Nzoia, where the attack occurred.
“They were just friends and I wonder why he wanted to take away things belonging to my daughter,” Mzee Cheptegei stated.
The father mentioned that the pair was involved in a case that the DCI was looking into.
He stated that the athlete has two children with a different man who resides in Uganda.
Mzee Cheptegei stated that the two had been apart for a long time, but on Sunday, Marangach secretly entered the residence and carried out the assault.