The family of the late Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has accused the police of negligence, claiming her death could have been prevented. Speaking from their home in Trans Nzoia County, Cheptegei’s father described how local security agencies repeatedly ignored threats made by the main suspect, Dickson Ndiema, over a prolonged land dispute.
The family recounted the harrowing incident, detailing how Ndiema allegedly doused Cheptegei in petrol and set her on fire. Despite her children’s desperate attempts to save their mother, Ndiema reportedly thwarted their efforts, leaving them powerless to intervene.
“Wakati aliungua alibingirika kwa nyasi…hapo hiyo nyasi haikumuokoa akatoa sweater aliyokuwa nayo…sasa vile alitoa hiyo sweater akatupa hiyo sweater hapo, ilikuwa na simu, sasa ilikuwa inaungua…sasa wakati anamuongezea petroli akakuwa anaita Dorry akisema nisaidie na blanketi wakati huyu anaona hivo akaenda akaanza kukimbiza Dorry na panga akakuwa anataka kukata mtoto,” said Everline Chelangat, a neigbour.
Neighbours say the suspect fled into a banana plantation, leaving Cheptegei for dead.
The family also alleges negligence by a hospital in Kitale as their kin reportedly went for hours with no treatment.
“Nilienda kuleta dawa ingine ndogo ndogo ivi ya chupa nikaambia daktari ndio hii dawa si mkuje mumshugulikie, akaniambia usikuwe na spidi na tena usitugombanishe…ndio nikamwambia kama hamtaki kutusaidia si basi mtupee huyu mgonjwa,” Chelangat added.
Cheptegei’s family has also accused security agencies of reportedly failing to act on complaints by the athlete on threats to her life by the main suspect.
“Wangekuwa wachukua mkondo yao kufuata sheria vizuri huyu mtoto hangekufa…ya kwanza ilikuwa ya simu, ya pili akamfuata mtoto mpaka Uganda…ya kwanza alifuata mtoto mpaka kwa camp usiku akarudi…sasa ya pili ndio hii na ya tatu ndio hii sasa amemaliza mtoto,” the late athlete’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, said.
Endebes sub-county police commander Salesioh Muriithi stated that investigations are ongoing. Cheptegei’s death has brought renewed attention to the issue of gender-based violence among female athletes in Kenya.
In 2021, long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was fatally stabbed in Iten, and in 2022, Bahraini athlete Damaris Mutua was also found dead in a house in the same town. In all three cases, the athletes’ partners have been identified as the primary suspects.
