Killer Of Ugandan Olympic Athlete Cheptegei Dies In Hospital

Dickson Ndiema Marangach, the boyfriend of late Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, has died from injuries sustained during the brutal attack on Cheptegei, according to a statement from the Kenyan hospital treating him.

Marangach, who had been receiving care in the intensive care unit at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, died on Monday night at around 8:00 PM. He sustained 30% burns after setting Cheptegei ablaze in her home in western Kenya on September 1. Cheptegei, who suffered 80% burns, succumbed to her injuries last week.

An official from the hospital confirmed the news but requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. A formal statement from the hospital is expected later.

The attack has sent shockwaves through the region, reigniting conversations about the alarming rise of gender-based violence. Cheptegei, a mother of two, had recently competed in the Paris Olympic Games, finishing 44th in the women’s marathon.

According to local reports, the attack occurred after Marangach snuck into Cheptegei’s home while she was at church with her children. The violent incident was allegedly triggered by a property dispute. Witnesses claim Marangach poured petrol over Cheptegei and set her on fire, threatening her sister with a machete when she tried to intervene.

The tragic deaths of Cheptegei and Marangach mark the latest in a series of violent attacks against female athletes in East Africa. Since 2021, two other prominent athletes, Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, have also lost their lives at the hands of their partners.

Cheptegei’s burial is scheduled for September 14 near her family home in eastern Uganda.

Gender-based violence remains a critical issue in Kenya, with 725 femicide cases reported in 2022, according to the United Nations. A 2023 study by Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 34% of women in the country have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.