Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei's tragic death has once again highlighted the disturbing prevalence of domestic violence against female athletes in Kenya. Cheptegei, a 33-year-old athlete from Uganda, met a horrific end when her boyfriend poured petrol on her and set her on fire during a dispute. Sustaining 80% burns, she succumbed to her injuries four days later in a hospital in Eldoret.
Similarly, the case of Kenyan star runner Agnes Tirop in 2021 shocked the world. Tirop, a promising 25-year-old athlete, was fatally stabbed at her home in Iten by her husband. The incident sparked outrage among fellow athletes and brought attention to the issue of domestic abuse within the athletic community.
