How boyfriend set Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei ablaze

Eric Patrick 

A Ugandan marathon runner, Rebecca Cheptegei who competed in the Paris Olympics this year, has died days after she was burned by her boyfriend.

This was disclosed in a statement by country’s athletics federation and shared on its  X.com handle on Thursday.

THEWATCH AFRICA gathered that her death was also confirmed on X.com by the Kenyan Olympic Team.

Rebecca Cheptegei, competes at the Discovery 10km road race in Kapchorwa, Uganda on January 20, 2023.

Cheptegei, 33, who lived in Kenya, had been in a critical condition after suffering burns on 75% of her body following Sunday’s attack at her house in the western Trans Nzoia County.

Trans Nzoia County police commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom stated that the athlete had been doused in petrol by her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, who stormed her house with a jerry can of gasoline and set fire to her after a disagreement over land.

Ndiema, who was also burned, is being treated at a local  hospital in the city of Eldoret.