Rebecca Cheptegei's father and mother on Thursday opened up for the first time after the tragic death of the Ugandan athlete, hinting at a conflict over land as the source of conflic
The father Joseph Cheptegei and his wife, Agnes Ndiema Cheptegei, spoke to the press at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital describing the devastation that the late athlete's passing caused to the family.
The family is now keen on seeking justice for the athlete and wants the authorities to protect Cheptegei's land at Endebess in Trans Nzoia - which was the source of conflict between the athlete and her boyfriend.
"Rebecca had a plot in Kinyoro which she purchased and it has brought issues. I want to appeal to the government to safeguard her children and property since we cannot always be available to protect them," he added.
While expressing his grief, Joseph also revealed that the late athlete was a breadwinner in the family and lamented the wave of uncertainty that had befell the athlete's children upon her demise.
“We have children in secondary schools and I don’t know how we are going to cope with this challenge to ensure they complete their studies,” he noted. “I have lost a daughter who has been helping me in many ways."
Rebecca's mother, who was also at the hospital, could barely speak to the media as she blamed the government for her daughter's passing.
"I have no words. I only blame the government," Ndiema noted, asserting that the deceased was a kind-hearted person who hardly bothered anyone.
The 33-year-old mother of two suffered 80 per cent burns after her boyfriend attacked her and set her on fire. According to authorities, the attack happened after she arrived home from church with her two children.
According to Owen Menach, the head of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, the burns were so severe that all her organs failed, leading to her death.
Before her untimely passing, however, there were plans to airlift the athlete to Nairobi for specialised treatment but her injuries were too severe.
The boyfriend, who also suffered burns, is also admitted but is in stable condition.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen earlier issued a statement on Cheptegei's death noting that more needs to be done to curb the issue of domestic violence, particularly among athletes.
"The tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to combat gender-based violence in our society, which in recent years has reared its ugly head in elite sporting circles. As a government, we remain committed to supporting justice for Rebecca," his statement read.
Cheptegei's most recent race was at the just-concluded Paris Olympics where she participated in the marathon and finished in the 44th place.
In 2022, she won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
