UGANDAN OLYMPIC ATHLETE SET ON FIRE BY BOYFRIEND
Rebecca Cheptegei was on her way home from church when her former boyfriend Dickson Ndiema ambushed her. He doused her with petrol and set her on fire.
Cheptegei, who recently represented her country at the Paris Olympic Games, died because of injuries sustained during the horrific attack. She died in hospital.
Her neighbours said they heard screams before Cheptegei came running towards them shouting for help. Her body was on fire.
According to local sources, the couple was fighting over a piece of land in north-west Kenya. The land size is small, but it’s where Cheptegei lived and trained all year long.
The BBC reports the 33-year-old Olympian was the third female athlete to be killed in Kenya over the last three years. In each case, current or former romantic partners were named as the main suspects by police.
Ndiema died a few days later in hospital. According to a hospital spokesperson, he died from burns sustained in the attack. He was admitted to the intensive care unit with burns on more than 40% of his body.
In honour of Cheptegei, the mayor of Paris said a sports venue will be named after her.
Image credit: Women’s Agenda