Cheptegei's body arrived in her hometown in Bukwo, eastern Uganda, wrapped in the Ugandan national colours.
The body of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who tragically died after being set on fire by her partner in Kenya, was received by family members and anti-gender-based violence activists on Friday. Her untimely death has sent shockwaves across the athletic community and reignited calls for action against gender-based violence.
Rebecca Cheptegei's body arrived from Kenya on Friday
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Cheptegei's body on arrival in her home district
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The sombre occasion was marked by a large gathering of family members, Ugandan athletics officials, and local government representatives who paid tribute to the fallen athlete.
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Cheptegei, aged 33, had competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics marathon just weeks before the attack, where she finished in 44th place.
Rebecca Cheptegei returned yesterday from Kenya
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Cheptegei’s tragic death occurred after a violent altercation with her partner, Dickson Ndiema, in Kenya. The couple is said to have quarrelled over a piece of land that Cheptegei had purchased, and during the dispute, Ndiema doused her with gasoline and set her on fire. Cheptegei sustained burns on 80% of her body, while Ndiema, who suffered burns on 30% of his body, later succumbed to his injuries.
Her death marks the fourth instance in recent years of a female athlete in Kenya losing her life at the hands of a partner.
Protesters at Rebecca Cheptegei's funeral procession
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This has raised serious concerns about the rising rates of gender-based violence in the region. Kenya's 2022 Demographic and Health Survey found that 41% of Kenyan women have experienced physical or sexual violence from their current or former partners, making Cheptegei's death part of a much larger issue that has spurred protests across the country.
Viola Cheptoo, founder of Tirop Angels, an organisation formed in memory of Agnes Tirop, another female athlete killed by her partner in 2021, addressed the gathering at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue in Eldoret, Kenya. She called for immediate action to prevent further deaths of female athletes due to domestic violence. "We are here to say that enough is enough. We are tired of burying our sisters due to GBV," Cheptoo stated passionately.
The body of Rebecca Cheptegei on arrival from Kenya
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As Cheptegei’s body was transported to Bukwo, Uganda, locals lined the streets to honour her memory. The body was driven around Bukwo town, where the community gathered to celebrate her life and athletic achievements. Cheptegei was remembered not only for her Olympic participation but also for winning gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Cheptegein will be laid to rest at her ancestral home in Kapsiywo village.
