Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Tragically Killed by Ex-boyfriend.
This week, we start in Gambia, where a 96-year-old woman was convicted of female genital cutting. Then, we head to Uganda, where the anonymity of teletherapy makes it easier for people to open up, but the cost and limited phone access are barriers for many. Finally, we stop in India, where a tech centre trains marginalized women in STEM.
But first, in Kenya, there is another tragic case of femicide. On Sunday, September 1, 2024, Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei was set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, over a land dispute. Cheptegei, who lived in western Trans Nzoia County, Kenya, was home with her two daughters when Ndiema burst in with a jerry can of petrol.
He poured it over her and set her ablaze, causing burns on 75% of her body, leading to multi-organ failure. Sadly, on Thursday, September 6, the country’s athletic federation confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that Cheptegei had passed away that morning.? Cheptegei’s father blames the Kenyan government and police, saying they didn’t act on earlier reports against Ndiema.
The police claim the reports were withdrawn but are now treating the case as a murder investigation, with Ndiema as the main suspect. This sad event shows a troubling trend of femicide against athletes in Kenya, with Cheptegei being the third female athlete killed by an intimate partner in the last three years. There is an urgent need for the Kenyan government to improve legal protections and train officials to handle cases of gender-based violence with the sensitivity and urgency it demands.? Cheptegei will be buried on September 14 in Bukwo, Uganda, and will be remembered for her kindness, determination, and generosity.