Rebecca Cheptegei, another life ruined by an avoidable case of sexual violence

The Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei He died on Wednesday night in a Kenyan hospital after being set on fire by his partner, from whom he had been estranged for a long time. A case of sexist violence that, according to his family, could have been avoided If the police act in time.

This is what the athlete’s father said, 33 yearsto represent his country, Uganda, in the marathonof the Olympic Games of Paris 2024, where it placed 44th.

Cheptegei, who left behind two children from a previous marriage, has not recovered from burning on 80% of your body suffered as a result of the Kenyan attack Dickson Ndiema Marangachthat allegedly He poured gasoline on her and set her on fire. last Sunday in Trans-Nzoia County, western Kenya.

He died on Wednesday night “after all his organs failed”, The doctor reported this Thursday Owen Menachacting director of Moi University and Referral Hospital in the western city of Eldoret, an athletics mecca in East Africa.

“The police did not act quickly”

Cheptegei’s parents reported that the Kenyan police did not act “quickly” to protect their daughter’s life, even though it was “obvious” that she was in danger.

“Government agencies have failed us because we announced his safety in advance, because this man was following him even in Uganda, but they did not act immediately. “It is evident that his life is in danger.”said the runner’s father, Joseph Cheptegeiin media statements.

The family has repeatedly denounced the situation of sexist violence suffered by Cheptegei at the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) of Trans-Nzoia, where he lives. “Without further ado, last Friday we made the same complaint,” Cheptegei’s father lamented.

The athlete’s mother, Agnes Ndiema Cheptegeinext to his wife during the press statements, barely managed to say: “I have no words. I only blame the government.”

Another life was cut short

Cheptegei is one of the fastest marathon runners of all time in Uganda thanks to his perseverance and passion. Born on February 22, 1991 in the town of Bukwo (eastern Uganda), the long-distance runner, with an extroverted nature, began his athletics career in 2010 there are middle distance races.

He soon began to make a name for himself in international competitions and, although his career was characterized by rise and fallnever threw in the towel and also stood out in mountain and cross-country events.

So, by the end of 2022, Cheptegei has achieved the Ugandan national marathon record. Abu Dhabiwith a time of 02h22m47s.

“Our sport has lost a talented athlete in the most tragic and unimaginable circumstances,” lamented the president of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe echoing the global consternation caused by the death of Cheptegei, “an incredibly versatile runner who still had a lot left to give on roads, mountains and cross-country trails.”

The drama of female athletes in Kenya

Before Cheptegei, Kenyan runners Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua They were brutally murdered by their partners in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to combat gender-based violencewhich has increasingly affected even elite sports,” denounced the Kenyan Minister of Sports, Kipchumba Murkomenafter learning of the Ugandan woman’s death.

A woman died at the hands of her partner or close relative in Kenya every two daysaccording to data from the National Criminal Investigation Center (NCRC) collected in the latest report from the Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW), published in January.

Furthermore, 28% of women between 15 and 49 who have had a romantic relationship with a man have suffered physical, sexual or emotional violence, phenomena which the Kenyan authorities and the press in most cases as “domestic violence.”

Among the victims are athletes like Cheptegei, who for years had to combine their difficult professional life with family responsibilities and social expectations in a country with a serious problem of sexist violence, where crimes such as marital rape go unpunished.