Kenya: The murder of Rebecca Cheptegei, a femicide far from being an isolated case

It is a case that has moved an entire country. Rebecca Cheptegei, 44th in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, succumbed to her injuries after being burned more than 80% by a man identified as her companion. The man first doused her with gasoline before setting her on fire.We did everything in our power to save her.”said Dr. Kimani Mbugua, the doctor in charge of the intensive care unit.

“Last month, she was competing in the Paris Olympics, and less than a month later, we learn that she has died. She was due to compete in the New York marathon (United States) in November“, says the Kenyan athlete, Felix Kipkemoi, with emotion. This case comes at a time when the world of athletics has experienced several femicides in Kenya. In October 2021, Agnès Tirop, a double bronze medalist at the world championships, was found dead, stabbed in her home. Last year, in the country, 152 women died at the hands of their partners.