Thousands of mourners have turned out in eastern Uganda for the funeral of Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who was set ablaze by her former boyfriend and later died.
Dickson Ndiema attacked her with petrol just under a fortnight ago outside her home in neighbouring north-west Kenya, close to where she trained.
The 33-year-old’s killing, and its brutal nature, left her family distraught and shocked many others across the world.
It underscored the high levels of violence against women in Kenya and the fact that several female athletes have been victims in recent years.
Among those at the sombre and emotional funeral ceremony in a school field in Bukwo, Cheptegei’s home district, are fellow athletes wearing black T-shirts with the slogan “say no to gender-based violence”.
Cheptegei’s two daughters, Charity and Joy, are at the funeral.
Earlier, with her coffin on display and draped in the Ugandan flag, local leaders held a memorial service.
They observed a moment of silence and gave a standing ovation as they paid their respects to the late athlete.
Councillors said Cheptegei lived “a simple and focused life” and always offered guidance to her fellow athletes. “She inspired many children in the area to join athletics,” one said.
They also proposed to name a road and a local sports venue in her honour.
She is due to be buried later on Saturday at her father’s homestead nearby.
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph, and mother, Agnes, remember a kind-hearted child who became the breadwinner for the extended family
Cheptegei died in hospital four days after the attack. Doctors said she had suffered burns on more than 80% of her body which “led to multi-organ failure”.
Ndiema, who was also burned after some of the fuel splashed on his own body, died on Monday.
‘Running for her family’ – Olympian mourned after vicious attack.
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He attacked the mother-of-two after she returned from a service at a church, the God’s Dwelling Ministry.
The pastor there, Caroline Atieno, remembers a “wonderful… God-fearing person”.
After hearing about what had happened, she managed to speak to Cheptegei on the phone while she was in hospital.
The athlete first asked about her children, who were both fine, the pastor told the BBC’s Africa Daily podcast.
Then Cheptegei talked about her attacker: “You mean Dickson is not able to see all I have done for him? He could not remember even one or two things I have done for him and stop setting me on fire? Why has he done this to me?”
