Activists be part of the march in Eldoret, Kenya, as Cheptegei’s physique begins its last journey to her household residence in Bukwo, Uganda, for her funeral.
The physique of murdered Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei has begun its journey residence to Uganda, accompanied by activists calling for an finish to gender-based violence in Kenya.
The 33-year-old athlete succumbed to her wounds on September 5 after being attacked 4 days earlier by her Kenyan companion, who poured petrol over her and set her on hearth.
It occurred simply weeks after she made her Olympic debut within the ladies’s marathon in Paris, the place she completed forty fourth.
Her funeral is deliberate for Saturday in Bukwo, residence to her household in Uganda, however relations in Kenya paid their respects on Friday within the Rift Valley city of Eldoret, close to the place she lived.
Cheptegei is the third athlete to have died in Kenya because of gender-based violence since 2021, scary a worldwide outpouring of tributes and rage.
Tony Sabila, Cheptegei’s uncle, described her as “a pillar to the household” and expressed his unhappiness over her loss.
Because the physique handed via the city of Eldoret, scores of activists lined the street with others strolling alongside the hearse.
At a rally the identical day, many wore white shirts with a picture of Cheptegei and carried white or purple roses.
Others had indicators studying, “Being a girl shouldn’t be a loss of life sentence,” and “A home the place a girl isn’t protected isn’t a house.”
Cheptegei was attacked exterior her home in Endebass in Kenya. Native media reported her younger daughters and teenage sister witnessed the assault.
Her attacker, 32-year-old Dickson Ndiema Marangach, was additionally severely burned and died in hospital on Monday.
Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, instructed reporters the dispute with Marangach had been over the property the place she lived along with her sister and daughters. He instructed Kenyan media final week that Marangach had purchased 5 litres (1.3 gallons) of petrol after which hid out in a hen coop earlier than the assault.
“He poured the petrol and lit her on hearth. When she referred to as her sister to assist, he threatened her with a machete, and she or he ran away.”
The police mentioned the couple had “continually had household wrangles”.
The United Nations condemned her “violent homicide” with Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres, saying: “Gender-based violence is among the most prevalent human rights violations on the earth and must be handled as such.”
All through Kenya, 41 p.c of girls who’ve been married have skilled bodily violence, in contrast with 20 p.c of those that haven’t been married.
Not less than 500 ladies and women have been murdered in Kenya since 2016, in accordance with the UN.
Figures from UN Girls Africa present that globally, there have been 89,000 reviews of girls and women murdered in 2022, the very best quantity recorded in 20 years. Greater than half of the ladies and women had been killed by intimate companions or different relations.
Kenya’s sports activities minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, mentioned the Olympian’s loss of life was a “stark reminder” that extra should be carried out to fight gender-based violence.
