Outrage and sorrow at death of Ugandan athlete Cheptegei

AFP | Nairobi, Kenya

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Outrage and sorrow greeted the death on Thursday of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who succumbed to severe burns after being doused with petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend. It was the latest horrific act of gender-based violence in the East African country, where activists have warned of a rising femicide epidemic. The 33-year-old long distance runner died around 5:30 am (0230 GMT), the doctor treating her at a hospital in Eldoret in western Kenya told reporters.

"Her injuries were extensive and covered most parts of her body. It led to multiple organ failure," said Kimani Mbugua, head of the intensive care unit at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. "We tried our best but we did not succeed. Looking at her age and the over 80-percent burns she suffered, the hope of recovery was slim." Police say the attack was carried out on Sunday by Cheptegei's Kenyan partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach.

It took place just weeks after Cheptegei made her Olympic debut in the women's marathon at the Paris Games, where she finished in 44th. Marangach snuck into her home in Endebess near the border with Uganda while she was at church with her two young daughters, police said.

He also received severe burns in the incident, with a doctor saying he was in a stable condition but still in intensive care. Kenyan media said Cheptegei's children, aged nine and 11, had witnessed the attack. The attack triggered widespread condemnation. “The news of our daughter Rebecca Cheptegei’s tragic death due to domestic violence is deeply disturbing,” Janet Museveni, Uganda’s First Lady and Education Minister, posted on X.

The Paris Olympics organisers voiced their “profound indignation and sadness”.