Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei was doused in petrol and set on fire by her former partner Dickson Ndiema. Cheptegei died Sep. 5, 2024 from the burns she sustained during the incident.
Sep. 1, 2024 Ndiema asked his friend for a lighter and said it was for “an emergency”. Then snuck onto Cheptegei’s land and hid until she came outside and attacked her.
75% of Cheptegei’s body was covered in burns and 41% of Ndiema’s body was covered in burns. Ndiema died of sepsis and airway burns on Sep. 10, 2024. Police did not interview or question him before his death.
Cheptegei who is 33-years old and Ndiema who is 32-years old had a rough relationship from the beginning. There have been claims that Ndiema was abusive towards Cheptegei and that is why she had decided to walk away from the relationship.
Cheptegei was an Olympic marathon runner for Uganda during the 2024 Paris Olympics and was a part of the Ugandan defense forces. She has two daughters, 9 and 11 years old, with ex-husband Simon Ayeko.
Cheptegei and Ndiema ended their relationship in January. Cheptegei reported Ndiema to police in May because Ndiema sent men to try and get her to hand over her land. Then again in August for making threats towards her. Police did not do anything after the reports were made. Cheptegei’s name was on the deed and Ndiema was listed as a witness. Police thought the dispute between the two was just about land.
Cheptegei lived in Kenya and was the breadwinner for her family. Kenyan female athletes are known to be targets for manipulation and control because of the money elite athletes make. They earn more money in a single marathon than most in Kenya do in a year.
She is the third Kenyan athlete female runner to be killed by a significant other. World record breaker and Kenyan runner Agnes Jebet Tirop was stabbed to death by her husband in 2021. Damaris Muthee Mutua kenyan born athlete was strangled by her significant other in 2022.
This case has brought light to domestic violence that happens towards successful female athletes in Kenya.
