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- Olympic athlete set on fire by her boyfriend, police say (newsbreak.com)
In a distressing incident in Kenya, Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei was severely injured after her boyfriend set her on fire during a dispute, according to police reports. Cheptegei, who placed 44th in the 2024 Paris Olympics, is currently receiving medical treatment for burn injuries covering 75% of her body.
The attack occurred at her residence in Trans Nzoia County, western Kenya, where she was reportedly in critical condition as of Tuesday, according to the BBC. The local police commander, Jeremiah ole Kosiom, revealed that during the altercation on Sunday, Dickson Ndiema, Cheptegei’s boyfriend, doused her with petrol from a jerrican and ignited the fire.
An anonymous staff member from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, where the couple is being treated, described Cheptegei’s injuries as severe, noting significant facial burns. The report did not clarify whether Cheptegei’s children were present or harmed during the incident.
The basis of the couple’s dispute reportedly centered around a piece of land Cheptegei purchased in Trans Nzoia, a location chosen for its proximity to numerous athletic training facilities, according to her parents. A local authority noted that arguments over this land escalated to violence, preceding the fire.
The Ugandan Athletics Federation has publicly lamented the tragedy, acknowledging the severe injuries sustained by Cheptegei and confirming her hospitalization through a statement on Twitter.
This latest act of violence against Cheptegei highlights a broader, alarming trend of gender-based violence within the region. A recent report by the Kenyan Bureau of National Statistics indicates that 34% of Kenyan women have experienced physical violence from the age of 15, with the risk notably higher among married women. The report finds that 41% of married women have encountered violence, compared to 20% of unmarried women.
The incident follows the tragic fates of other Kenyan athletes, including the murder of Damaris Mutua in Iten, a prominent running hub, and the 2021 stabbing death of record-holding runner Agnes Tirop in the same town. Tirop’s estranged husband, Emmanuel Ibrahim Rotich, is currently on trial for her murder, having pleaded not guilty.
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- Olympic athlete set on fire by her boyfriend, police say (newsbreak.com)