Family Receives Body of Ugandan Athlete Killed by Partner

Family Receives Body of Ugandan Athlete Killed by Partner

The body of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei was received by her family and anti-femicide activists on Friday, following her tragic death in Kenya. Cheptegei was set on fire by her partner, Dickson Ndiema, leading to severe burns that caused her death.

Cheptegei’s family and numerous activists gathered at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital’s morgue in Eldoret, Kenya, to view her body. The atmosphere was somber as they chanted anti-femicide slogans, demanding an end to gender-based violence. Cheptegei’s death marks the fourth time a female athlete in Kenya has been killed by a partner, highlighting a troubling trend of violence against women.

Viola Cheptoo, founder of Tirop Angels—a group established in memory of athlete Agnes Tirop, who was murdered in 2021—voiced frustration and called for an end to such violence. “We are here to say that enough is enough. We are tired of burying our sisters due to GBV,” she stated.

Reports indicate that Cheptegei and Ndiema had argued over a piece of land Cheptegei had purchased in Kenya. Ndiema’s actions were preceded by threats and stalking, which the family had reported to the police.

Cheptegei had recently competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, finishing 44th. Her father, Joseph, said the body will be taken briefly to their home in Endebess before being transported to Bukwo in eastern Uganda for a vigil and burial on Saturday.

This case underscores the high rates of violence against women in Kenya, where recent statistics show that 41% of women have experienced physical or sexual violence from their partners.

Source: Africa News