Rebecca Cheptegei fighting for her life after fire attack

Ugandan long-distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei is currently battling for her life after being set ablaze by a Kenyan man shortly after her participation in the Paris Olympics.

The 33-year-old athlete is receiving medical care at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) located in Eldoret, a city in the Kenyan Rift Valley, following the incident that occurred on Sunday.

According to Owen Menach, the acting CEO of the hospital, Cheptegei has suffered burns covering 80 percent of her body, and all possible measures are being taken to ensure her survival.

Authorities reported that a man named Dickson Ndiema Marangach allegedly poured petrol on Cheptegei and ignited her at her residence in Endebess, situated in the western county of Trans-Nzoia.

As of Wednesday, there was no official medical update from the hospital.

However, a medical counselor at the facility, who requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, indicated that her condition had deteriorated.

"Cheptegei has developed a bacterial infection of sepsis as a result of the severe injuries sustained to her abdomen and lower body," the counselor stated.

Peter Tum, a senior official from the Kenyan sports ministry, mentioned on Wednesday that both the Ugandan and Kenyan governments are collaborating in her treatment.

"There are ongoing efforts to ensure that the athlete, currently hospitalized in Eldoret, is airlifted to Nairobi for specialized medical attention," he remarked during a local television interview, though he did not provide additional details.

Reports from Kenyan media indicate that one of Cheptegei's daughters witnessed the attack at her mother's home.

"He kicked me while I attempted to run to my mother's aid," the girl was quoted by Kenya's The Standard.

"I immediately called for help, which attracted a neighbor who tried to put out the flames with water, but it was ineffective," said the unnamed girl.

The Standard also reported that Cheptegei is the mother of two daughters, aged nine and eleven.

Marangach also suffered injuries in the incident, with 30 percent of his body affected by burns. Initially, the police identified him as a partner of Cheptegei; however, Cheptegei's father clarified to local media that his daughter is married to a Ugandan man who is currently not in Kenya.

Cheptegei participated in the women's marathon at the Paris Games on August 11, finishing in 44th place.

The attack on Cheptegei occurs two years after the tragic death of Damaris Mutua, a Kenyan-born athlete, who was discovered deceased in Iten, a renowned running center in the Rift Valley.

In 2021, the accomplished Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop, aged 25, was found murdered by stabbing in her residence in Iten. Her estranged husband is facing trial for her murder, a charge he has denied.

Recent statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, released in January 2023, indicate that 34 percent of women in the country have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.