Cheptegei’s dad prays for justice after daughter set on fire

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP):

JOSEPH Ceptegai says he is praying for justice for his daughter, Olympian Rebecca Cheptegai, after a domestic dispute left her in hospital, sedated, and with burns to 75 per cent of her body.

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said on Monday that Cheptegei’s boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, bought a jerrican of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze during a disagreement on Sunday.

Ndiema also sustained burn wounds, and the two are receiving specialised treatment.

Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter bought land in Trans Nzoia to be near the county’s many athletic training centres.

The injuring of the 33-year-old marathon runner, who was 44th at the Paris Olympics, has renewed concerns over domestic abuse issues, particularly in Kenya.

In April 2022, another female runner, Damaris Mutua, was found strangled in a home with a pillow over her face in the Rift Valley town of Iten.

It came months after record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death in the same town.

In both cases, their partners have been identified by the authorities as the main suspects.

Tirop’s husband is currently facing murder charges, which he denies, while a search for Mutua’s boyfriend continues.

Men have also been targeted.

Last December, another Ugandan athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat, was stabbed to death by assailants in Eldoret.