The former boyfriend of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who fatally set her on fire, has died from burns sustained in the attack, according to a Kenyan hospital.
The former partner of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who killed her by setting her ablaze, has died from burns injury he sustained in the attack.
Dickson Ndiema, who attacked Cheptegei as she was returning home from church last week, doused her with petrol and set her ablaze.
Ndiema died due to his injuries on Monday night at an intensive care unit where he was being treated for burns covering over 30% of his body.
The attack occurred in north-west Kenya, where Cheptegei lived and trained. Local officials reported that the couple had been involved in a fight over a landed property.
Ndiema, who was the main culprit in Cheptegei’s death, entered her home with a five-litre jerry can of petrol. During the assault, he was accidentally drenched in the fuel and caught fire while attempting to ignite Cheptegei.
Cheptegei, who had suffered burns covering 80% of her body, passed away last Thursday. Neighbors described hearing her screams before she ran towards them, seeking help.
Both Cheptegei and Ndiema were admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where they later died from their injuries. Cheptegei’s death has drawn international attention, with many in Uganda mourning the loss of an athlete who was a source of national pride and inspiration.
Cheptegei, a 33-year-old marathon runner, was renowned for her achievements in athletics, including her participation in the Paris Olympics earlier this year and her gold medal at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in 2022. She was born on the Kenyan side of the Kenya-Uganda border and chose to represent Uganda in pursuit of her athletics dreams.
Her death adds to a troubling pattern of violence against female athletes in Kenya. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases involving athletes who were murdered by intimate partners. Cheptegei’s death, like those of Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, highlights ongoing concerns about gender-based violence in the region.
Cheptegei is set to be laid to rest on Saturday at her ancestral home in Bukwo, Uganda. The incident has underscored the broader issue of violence against women in Kenya, where a national survey in 2022 revealed that 34% of women had experienced physical violence.
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