The family of the late Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has now accused the police of laxity, saying the death could have been averted.

Speaking at their home in Trans Nzoia County, Cheptegei’s father recounted how local security agencies had often ignored threats issued to her daughter by the main suspect Dickson Ndiema over a long-standing land dispute.

They recounted how Ndiema not only doused the Ugandan athlete in petrol and set her ablaze, but also thrashed any attempts by Cheptegei’s distraught children to save their mother from the flames.

Neighbours say the suspect fled into a banana plantation, leaving Cheptegei for dead.

The family also alleges negligence by a hospital in Kitale as their kin reportedly went for hours with no treatment.

“Nilienda kuleta dawa ingine ndogo ndogo ivi ya chupa nikaambia daktari ndio hii dawa si mkuje mumshugulikie, akaniambia usikuwe na spidi na tena usitugombanishe…ndio nikamwambia kama hamtaki kutusaidia si basi mtupee huyu mgonjwa,” Chelangat added.

Cheptegei’s family has also accused security agencies of reportedly failing to act on complaints by the athlete on threats to her life by the main suspect.

“Wangekuwa wachukua mkondo yao kufuata sheria vizuri huyu mtoto hangekufa…ya kwanza ilikuwa ya simu, ya pili akamfuata mtoto mpaka Uganda…ya kwanza alifuata mtoto mpaka kwa camp usiku akarudi…sasa ya pili ndio hii na ya tatu ndio hii sasa amemaliza mtoto,” the late athlete’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, said.

Endebes sub-county police commander Salesioh Muriithi says that investigations are ongoing.

Cheptegei’s death has opened a can of worms on gender-based violence amongst female athletes in Kenya.

In 2021, long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was stabbed to death in Iten, while in 2022 Bahraini athlete Damaris Mutua was also found dead at a house in the same town.

In the three instances, the athletes’ partners have been identified as the prime suspects.