NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – Uganda Olympics athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died in a Kenyan hospital where she was being treated after suffering 80% burns to her body due to a attack by his partner.
A hospital spokesman, Owen Menach, confirmed her death on Thursday. Cheptegei received treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret town.
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said on Monday that Cheptegei’s partner, Dickson Ndiema, bought a jerry can of petrol, poured it on her and set her on fire during a dispute on Sunday. Ndiema was also burnt and treated at the same hospital.
Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter bought land in Trans Nzoia to be close to the county’s many athletic training centres.
A report filed by the local chief says the couple were heard fighting over the land where the house was built before the fire started.