Joseph Cheptegei and his wife, Agnes Ndiema Cheptegei, expressed their profound sorrow to the press at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital following the tragic death of their daughter,
Rebecca Cheptegei. The loss has left the family devastated, and they are now focused on seeking justice for Rebecca. They are also urging authorities to protect her land in Endebess, Trans Nzoia, which had been a source of conflict between Rebecca and her boyfriend.
Joseph Cheptegei emphasized the need for the government to safeguard Rebecca’s children and property, as the family cannot always be there to protect them. “Rebecca had a plot in Kinyoro that she purchased, and it has caused issues. I want to appeal to the government to ensure the safety of her children and property,” he said.
As he mourned his daughter, Joseph also shared the family’s concerns about the future, especially regarding the education of Rebecca’s children. “We have children in secondary schools, and I don’t know how we will manage to ensure they complete their studies,” he lamented. “I’ve lost a daughter who supported me in so many ways.”
Rebecca’s mother, overcome with grief, struggled to speak to the media. She held the government accountable for her daughter’s death, expressing her pain with the simple statement, “I have no words. I only blame the government.” Ndiema described Rebecca as a kind-hearted person who never troubled anyone.
Rebecca, a 33-year-old mother of two, tragically suffered burns over 80 percent of her body after being attacked and set on fire by her boyfriend. The attack occurred when she returned home from church with her two children. Owen Menach, the head of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, confirmed that the burns were so severe that all of her organs failed, ultimately leading to her death.
There were plans to airlift Rebecca to Nairobi for specialized treatment, but her injuries were too extensive for the transfer to be feasible. Her boyfriend, who also sustained burns, is currently hospitalized but in stable condition.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen released a statement following Rebecca’s death, stressing the urgent need to address domestic violence, especially within the athletic community. “This tragedy serves as a stark reminder that we must do more to combat gender-based violence in our society, which has become alarmingly prevalent, even among elite athletes. As a government, we are committed to ensuring justice for Rebecca,” his statement read.
Rebecca’s last race was at the recently concluded Paris Olympics, where she competed in the marathon and finished in 44th place. In 2022, she won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
