- Cheptegei died while undergoing treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
- She had been admitted to the ICU after sustaining burn injuries after her alleged boyfriend doused her body with petrol and set her on fire.
Image: KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN/X
Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has mourned Women Marathon Record holder Rebecca Cheptegei, saying her death is a loss to the entire East African region.
Murkomen in a statement on Thursday said her death is a reminder that more efforts need to be put towards ending Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Cheptegei died while undergoing treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
He went on to say that the government of Kenya is committed to supporting justice for Rebecca.
Murkomen added that no one should undergo what she went through.
"This 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," the CS said.
"As a government, we remain committed to supporting justice for Rebecca. No one should have to go through such an ordeal."
Cheptegei had been admitted to the ICU after sustaining burn injuries after her alleged boyfriend doused her body with petrol and set her on fire.
The burns damaged most of her organs, doctors at the facility said.
She was due to be airlifted to Nairobi on Wednesday for specialised treatment.
The said boyfriend Dickson Ndiema Marangach also sustained burn injuries during the attack.
He was also admitted to the same ICU facility with about 30 per cent burns.
Neighbours heard a commotion and rescued the two who were rushed to hospital in critical condition.
Cheptegei's father Mzee Joseph Cheptegiei clarified that the two were just friends for some time.
He claimed they had been quarrelling over her land in Endebes, Trans Nzoia, where the attack occurred.
“They were just friends and I wonder why he wanted to take away things belonging to my daughter,” Mzee Cheptegei stated.
The father said the two had a case which was being investigated by the DCI.
He said the athlete has two children and their father is a different person living in Uganda.
Mzee Cheptegei said the two had separated for long but on Sunday the Marangach sneaked into the home where he staged the attack.