The Atheist Association has condemned the murder of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei and called for expeditious investigations into the incident.
Cheptegei succumbed to her injuries at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret on Thursday after a man alleged to be her boyfriend dosed her with petrol and set her ablaze Monday morning.
Doctors at the hospital said she suffered 80 percent-degree burns and died after all her organs failed.
“This appalling incident highlights the deeply rooted power imbalances between men and women, which have historically resulted in the oppression and discrimination of women by men, hindering their full progress in society,” Harrison Mumia, president of the Atheist in Kenya Society, said.
Dickson Ndiema Marangach, the man accused of the attack, is still admitted at the same hospital in ICU nursing 30 per cent degree burns.
He was caught in the same fire during the attack at her house in Kinyoro, Endebes, Trans Nzoia county.
Trans Nzoia police commander Jeremiah Ole Kosiom said preliminary investigations established that the two had been frequently quarrelling over a plot and a house.
Come Sunday, the man reportedly sneaked into the home with a five-litre jerrican full of petrol and committed the heinous act as soon as Cheptegei returned from church with their children.
Mumia said violence against women serves as a significant social mechanism that enforces their subjugation in comparison to men.
“The Atheists In Kenya Society call upon the authorities to expedite their investigations and ensure the perpetrator is held accountable. Additionally, we urge the government to formulate national action plans aimed at enhancing the protection of women from all forms of violence,” he added.
