The Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died at a Kenyan hospital after sustaining 80% burns to her body following an attack by her partner on Sunday.
The 33-year-old Cheptegei had been receiving treatment after partner, Dickson Ndiema, bought a container of petrol, poured it on her and set her on fire. “The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her,” police told the Standard newspaper in Kenya.
“The suspect was also caught by the fire and sustained serious burns.”
Ndiema was being treated at the same hospital as Cheptegei.
Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter bought land in Trans-Nzoia to be near the Kenya’s many athletic training centres.
A report filed by local police chief said that the couple were heard fighting over the land where the house was built before the fire started.
