Rebecca Cheptegei’s initial burial plans have had to be altered because of the condition of her body, Kenyans.co.ke has learnt.
The slain athlete’s body was scheduled to be removed from the Moi Referral Hospital morgue on Thursday, September 12, but her father Mzee Joseph Cheptegei says the exercise will be done on Friday instead.
Cheptegei sustained 80 per cent burns after a vicious attack by her boyfriend Dickson Ndiema, who doused her with petrol before setting her ablaze.
“We have changed the plans because the body can not take two days out of the morgue before burial,” he confirmed.
Slaina Uganda Athelete Rebeca Cheptegei Storms to victory at a past race
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Because of the change in plans, a night vigil which was scheduled for Thursday night will not take place.
Ndiema, who also sustained burn injuries, passed away on September 10.
Cheptegei’s parents on Wednesday, September 11, visited the MTRH morgue to oversee a postmortem on the body.
The body will make a brief stop in Endebes before a two-hour drive to Bukwo, Uganda, where she will be buried.
Born at the Kenya-Uganda border, the late 33-year-old opted to represent Uganda and was a member of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) where she ranked as a sergeant.
Part of her life was spent in Chepkum, a Kenyan village near the Ugandan border, where she was a community-favourite.
She was an inspiration to many, and showed a lot of promise on the tracks, particularly in marathons. Despite a lowly 44th place finish at the Paris Olympics, Cheptegei was hailed as a champion in her home country in Uganda.
Her rank earned her the right to be accorded a military burial.
Rebecca Cheptegei running during a past marathon
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UAF
