Cheptegei fire attack: Olympic runner’s family unhappy with police response after demise

The family of Rebecca Cheptegei have expressed their displeasure with the response of the police after she sustained injuries from a fire attack by her former partner which sadly led to her death on Thursday, Afrosport reports.

Owen Menach, a spokesperson at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret City confirmed the 33-year-old’s death, stating she died from multiple organ failure.

According to the Trans Nzoia County Police, Cheptegei’s former partner, Dickson Ndiema, poured a can of petrol which set her ablaze after an argument.

Cheptegei’s father, Joseph, while speaking to journalists at the hospital, described Ndiema as a murderer and is still coy about measures taken by security officials to bring him to book.

“As it is now, the criminal who harmed my daughter is a murderer, and I have yet to see what the security officials are doing,” he said.

“He is still free and might even flee, while I have lost a child whom I depended on.”

Her mother Agnes was also critical of the police response stating: “I have no strength. I just blame the police officers in Endebess [Rebecca’s home address]. They were responsible for bringing security to my child’s home but failed. I have nothing else to say.”

Rebecca Cheptegei competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finishing in 44th place.