The body of athlete Rebecca Cheptegei was removed from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue in Eldoret, marking the beginning of her final journey to Bukwo, Uganda, where she will be laid to rest. Emotions were high as Cheptegei's family, led by her father, Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, received her body at the morgue.
Female athletes and gender rights activists joined the family for a procession through Eldoret town on the way to Trans Nzoia. Earlier, several athletes and activists had gathered at the morgue to escort the hearse through the city. The procession was part of an ongoing campaign against femicide and gender-based violence (GBV), which has claimed the lives of several top athletes in recent years.
The mourners were joined by human and women’s rights activists in a march from Zion Mall to the hospital morgue. Mzee Cheptegei expressed his grief, saying, "I am deeply saddened by the untimely death of my daughter. May God rest her soul in peace."
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The event was organized by the End Femicide Kenya Movement, and female lawyers also took part in the procession to raise awareness about femicide. Lawyer Mercy Rutto voiced concern over the rising cases of femicide and GBV, particularly affecting female athletes. "We are committed to taking action to protect and uphold the rights of women, especially athletes," she said.
Recent femicide cases involving athletes, such as Edith Muthoni, Damaris Mutua, Agnes Tirop, and now Cheptegei, were highlighted during the event. Cheptegei will be given a military burial by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on Saturday.
