The father of Ugandan Olympic distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei is calling for justice after she was attacked and burnt to death by her partner earlier this week.
Cheptegei was hospitalised in Kenya after her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, doused her in petrol and set her on fire during a land dispute, leaving her with burns over 80 per cent of her body.
She later died from her injuries.
Cheptegei's father, Joseph Cheptegei, speaking to reporters at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret on Thursday, called for justice. According to the Associated Press.
“As things stand, the person who hurt my daughter is a murderer and we don't yet know what the security authorities are doing,” the father said. “The perpetrator is still free and may escape.”
“We lost our breadwinner,” he added. According to the BBCHe was worried about how his late daughter's two young children would “continue their education.”
Cheptegei finished 44th in the women's marathon at the Paris Olympics last month.
According to the Associated Press, Cheptegei's parents told reporters that their daughter had bought land in Trans Nzoia, near the Kenya Sports Centre, and the local police chief said he had heard the couple arguing over the location of the land.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei passed away early this morning after being the victim of domestic violence,” the Uganda Athletics Federation posted on X on Thursday.
“As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace.”
