Ugandan long-distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei remains in a critical condition following a horrific attack in which she was set on fire by a Kenyan man. The incident occurred just weeks after Cheptegei’s participation in the Paris Olympics.
The 33-year-old athlete is currently receiving treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, Kenya, after the brutal attack on Sunday. According to Owen Menach, the hospital’s acting CEO, Cheptegei has sustained burns over 80% of her body, and intensive efforts are being made to save her life.
Reports indicate that Dickson Ndiema Marangach, identified as the assailant, attacked Cheptegei at her home in Endebess, Trans-Nzoia County, by dousing her in petrol and setting her ablaze.
On Wednesday, no official medical update was released from the hospital. However, an unnamed medical counsellor at the hospital informed AFP that Cheptegei’s condition has deteriorated. The counsellor reported that Cheptegei has developed sepsis, a bacterial infection, due to severe injuries to her stomach and lower body.
Peter Tum, a senior official from Kenya’s sports ministry, confirmed that both Ugandan and Kenyan authorities are involved in her treatment. Efforts are underway to airlift Cheptegei to Nairobi for specialised medical care, though further details have not been disclosed.
One of Cheptegei’s daughters witnessed the attack. According to Kenyan media, the child tried to get help as her mother was being attacked.
The alleged assailant, Marangach, also suffered burns, with 30% of his body affected. Initially described as Cheptegei’s partner, Marangach’s connection to her has been disputed by Cheptegei’s father, who clarified that she was married to a Ugandan man not present in Kenya.
Cheptegei, who competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics on August 11 and finished 44th, is the latest in a series of high-profile athletes who have suffered violence. This incident follows the tragic deaths of Kenyan-born athlete Damaris Mutua and record-breaking runner Agnes Tirop, who was murdered in 2021. Tirop’s estranged husband is currently on trial for her murder.
Recent statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reveal that 34% of women in Kenya have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.