The body of Kenyan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei has embarked on its final journey home to Uganda after she was murdered by her partner in a tragic act of gender-based violence. The 33-year-old athlete, who was set on fire by her partner, passed away on September 5, just weeks after competing in the women’s marathon at the Olympics in Paris. Cheptegei’s funeral is set to take place in Bukwo, Uganda, her family’s hometown, with relatives in Kenya already paying their respects in Eldoret.
Activists have joined the march in Eldoret, calling for an end to gender-based violence in Kenya. Cheptegei’s uncle described her as a “pillar to the family,” expressing sadness over her untimely death. The global sports community has mourned the loss of Cheptegei, with her being the third athlete in Kenya to die as a result of gender-based violence since 2021. The United Nations has also condemned her “violent murder,” highlighting the issue of gender-based violence worldwide.
In Kenya, 41 percent of married women have experienced physical violence, with at least 500 women and girls murdered in the country since 2016. Globally, there were 89,000 reports of women and girls murdered in 2022, with more than half being killed by intimate partners or family members. Kenya’s sports minister has called Cheptegei’s death a stark reminder of the need to combat gender-based violence. Cheptegei’s tragic death has sparked a powerful movement in the fight against gender-based violence, with activists and supporters demanding justice and change.
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Uganda Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei’s funeral procession commences in Kenya
