This incident highlights the alarming rise in gender-based violence in Uganda, where activists have warned of a growing femicide crisis. Cheptegei passed away at 05:30 EAT (03:30 CEST) at a hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. Dr. Kimani Mbugua, head of the intensive care unit, reported that her extensive burns covered over 80% of her body and led to multiple organ failure.

"We tried our best but we did not succeed. Looking at her age and the over 80 percent burns she suffered, the hope of recovery was slim," he stated. The attack occurred on Sunday when Cheptegei's Kenyan partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, entered her home in Endebess while she was at church with her two daughters. Marangach also suffered severe burns and is currently in stable condition in intensive care.

Eyewitness accounts reveal the brutality of the assault. Cheptegei's daughters, aged nine and eleven, witnessed the horrific event. One of them recounted, "Marangach kicked me while I tried to run to the rescue of my mother. I immediately cried out for help, attracting a neighbour who tried to extinguish the flames with water, but it was not possible."

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation. Janet Museveni, Uganda's First Lady, expressed her deep concern on X, stating, "The news of our daughter Rebecca Cheptegei's tragic death due to domestic violence is deeply disturbing." Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen emphasised the need for greater action against gender-based violence.

Organisers of the Paris Olympics shared their "profound indignation and sadness" over the incident. The Kenyan National Olympic Committee remembered Cheptegei as a talented athlete and a record holder in the women's marathon.

Cheptegei's father, Joseph, revealed that the dispute with Marangach was related to property issues. He recounted how Marangach had hidden in a chicken coop after purchasing five liters of petrol for the attack. "He poured the petrol and lit her on fire. When she called her sister for help, he threatened her with a machete, and she ran away," he explained.

Violence against women is a pervasive issue in Kenya, with the latest UN data reporting 725 femicide cases in 2022. A 2023 report found that 34 percent of women had experienced physical violence since age 15.

Joan Chelimo, an athlete and co-founder of Tirop's Angels, an organisation aimed at combating gender-based violence, expressed her outrage on Instagram, stating, "This senseless violence must end." The tragic fate of Cheptegei serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against gender-based violence in the region.