BY RAPHEAL LUBANGAKENE
Ugandan sports fellowship was struck in the wee hours of 5th September at about 5.30am – of the death of one of its own, athletics’ main protagonist Rebecca Cheptegei (aged 33). She had succumbed to severe burns sustained during a malicious attack from her boyfriend, Dickson Marangach.
Jeremiah ole Kosiom, an administrative officer at Trans Nzoia County, said earlier this week that a disgruntled Marangach stormed the athlete’s house with a jerry can of gasoline and set fire to her after a disagreement over land. Marangach, who was also burned in the process, is receiving treatment at amidst police investigation in Eldoret City.
She was under intensive care at Moi Teaching and Referral hospital with all efforts to save her life falling futile.
Dr. Kimani Mbugua, a consultant at the Intensive Care Unit, cited multi organ failure from the burns as the ultimate cause of her death, “She had a severe percentage of burns that unfortunately led to multi organ failure, which ultimately led to her passing.
“There was kidney failure, cardiovascular failure, and most of her systems failed following those burns, so we supported the organs the best as we could. Unfortunately, it was what we could do.” He explained.
The Uganda Olympic Committee was quick to condemn the act and justice is being scoured in this situation.
Disheartened by the news, Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) general secretary Beatrice Ayikoru expressed the fact that the country had lost a bright prospect and a sheer professional.
“Rebecca had sustained several injuries and it was hard to survive according to doctors. We mourn with her family. Rebecca is a talent lost young. May her soul rest in eternal peace,” Ayikoru expressed.
Uganda’s minister of state for sports, Peter Ogwang, called Cheptegei’s death “tragic” in a post on X also declaring that “Kenyan authorities are investigating the circumstances under which she died and a more detailed report and program will be provided in due course.”
Joan Chelimo, another Ugandan Olympian, said women need to “come together” following the incident and added that “We are still hoping, and trying to hope, that the perpetrators will be held accountable for their wrongdoings.”
Statistical reports is indicative of gender based violence, excruciating mostly on the lives of women, being on the rise in Kenya. A national survey carried out in 2022 stated that 34% of women said they had experienced physical violence.
Her career: At 19 years old, Cheptegei first represented Uganda in an under-20 race at the 2010 World Cross Country Championships and later transitioned to longer road races, making her marathon debut in 2021.
The mother of two remains the second fastest-Ugandan woman after recording a career best of two hours 22 minutes and 47 seconds in the 2022 Abu Dhabi marathon, coming home at 4th place.
In 2023, she competed at the World Athletics Championships finishing an impressive 14th and was at it this year at the recent Paris Olympics games where she finished 44th. That was her last outing.
