Rebecca Cheptegei’s mother broke down in tears as her daughter’s coffin made its final journey to Uganda. Cheptegei, a promising Olympic runner, tragically lost her life after being burned alive by her ex-boyfriend. The devastating incident has sent shockwaves through her community and the athletics world.
Cheptegei’s mother, overcome with grief, was seen weeping beside her daughter’s coffin, illustrating the profound pain felt by her family as they prepared to lay her to rest. The brutal act has sparked calls for justice, as well as highlighting the ongoing issue of gender-based violence.
The incident has prompted widespread condemnation, and authorities are continuing their investigation into the tragic death of the young athlete, who had a bright future ahead of her.
The grieving family of Rebecca Cheptegei gathered in Eldoret, Kenya, where her mother tearfully stood by her daughter’s coffin. Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Olympian and mother of two, tragically passed away after suffering severe burns when her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, set her alight during a heated argument.
Cheptegei succumbed to multiple organ failure after sustaining burns over 80% of her body. Her death has left her family and community in deep sorrow. While her final resting place will be in Bukwo, Uganda, where her funeral is planned for Saturday, relatives gathered in Eldoret to pay their respects ahead of her journey home.
This heartbreaking loss has brought attention to the urgent issue of domestic violence and the need for justice.
A hearse carrying Rebecca Cheptegei’s body made its way through Eldoret, Kenya, accompanied by scores of activists and mourners. The procession, marked by calls to end gender-based violence, saw participants carrying white and red roses and wearing T-shirts adorned with Cheptegei’s image.
At the Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital funeral home, the long-distance runner’s mother, Agnes Cheptegei, broke down in tears as she and other family members gathered to mourn. The emotional scene underscored the immense grief felt by those closest to Cheptegei, as they paused to honor her memory before her final journey to Uganda for her burial.
Rebecca Cheptegei’s father, Joseph, shared that her body will briefly stop at their home in Endebess, Kenya, before continuing to Bukwo, Uganda, for a night vigil and burial on Saturday. Visibly distraught, he mentioned, “We are in the final part of giving my daughter the last respect.”
Joseph revealed that the family had informed the police about Dickson Ndiema, Cheptegei’s ex-boyfriend, who had been stalking and threatening her. Her uncle, Tony Sabila, mourned the loss, calling her “a pillar to the family.”
The tragic incident occurred on September 1 when Ndiema attacked Cheptegei outside her home in Endebess. Despite recently falling out, Cheptegei had trusted him as a friend she met in Kenya. Ndiema reportedly sneaked into her compound with five liters of petrol and hid in a poultry house. During an argument, he snapped, doused her with petrol, and set her on fire.
Witnesses, including her young daughters and teenage sister, tried to intervene, but Cheptegei was tragically engulfed in flames. Neighbors, hearing the commotion, rushed to help, but the damage was too severe. Cheptegei was taken to the ICU at Eldoret’s Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, where she later died after suffering multiple organ failure.
Ndiema also suffered severe burns during the attack and passed away in the hospital shortly after.
As Rebecca Cheptegei’s body was transported through Eldoret, activists lined the streets and walked alongside the hearse, calling for an end to gender-based violence (GBV). Viola Cheptoo, founder of Tirop Angels—created in memory of athlete Agnes Tirop, who was murdered in 2021—demanded action to prevent more deaths of female athletes due to GBV, declaring, “Enough is enough.”
Cheptegei’s murder marks the third case of a Kenyan athlete dying from gender-based violence since 2021, sparking global outrage and tributes. Demonstrators carried signs such as “Being a woman should not be a death sentence” and “A house where a woman is not safe is not a home.”
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph, spoke of losing a daughter who was “very supportive” and expressed his hope for justice. He revealed that just before the attack, Rebecca and her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, were involved in a land dispute over her property in Endebess, Trans Nzoia. Hours before the fatal incident, both had appeared before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kitale regarding this dispute.
Cheptegei’s father shared that his daughter was married to a man in Uganda, emphasizing that her relationship with Ndiema was only one of friendship.
