Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner, died on September 5 in Kenya following the very serious burns she suffered four days earlier, when her partner had brutally attacked her and set her on fire. This latest act of violence against women has brought the spotlight back on what non-governmental organizations are calling a real “epidemic of feminicides” in East Africa.
Cheptegei, fresh from his participation in the marathon Olympics in Paris, where she placed 44th, was remembered with deep sorrow by the international sports community. “We have just learned of the tragic death of Rebecca Cheptegei, victim of a vicious attack by her boyfriend”, Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, said on X. “It was a vile and senseless act that deprived us of a great athlete, whose legacy will live forever.”
According to local police, Cheptegei's partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, broke into the marathon runner's home in Endebess, western Kenya, while she was at church with her two daughters. Once inside, he doused her with petrol and set her on fire.
Cheptegei's death is yet another tragedy in a context where gender violence continues to claim victims. Women's rights organizations are calling for urgent and concrete actions to stop this “silent epidemic”, which affects thousands of women around the world every day, leaving behind pain and despair.
Article published on 5 September 2024 - 17:23
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