The man accused of attacking Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has succumbed to his injuries, according to officials at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, Kenya.
Dickson Ndiema Marangach, who allegedly assaulted Cheptegei in her home on September 1, died on Tuesday evening at around 8:00 pm.
Marangach had been receiving treatment in the intensive care unit for 30 percent burns sustained during the attack, which also claimed the life of Cheptegei. The 33-year-old athlete, a mother of two, died last week from 80 percent burns.
“It’s true we lost Dickson Ndiema last night at about 8:00 pm,” a hospital official confirmed to AFP, requesting anonymity. The official added that Marangach’s family had been informed and a comprehensive statement would be released later.
The attack on Cheptegei has sparked widespread outrage and sorrow, highlighting the growing concern of gender-based violence in East Africa. This incident marks the third case of an athlete being killed by their partner since 2021.
Cheptegei, who made her Olympic debut in the women’s marathon at the Paris Games, will be laid to rest on September 14 near her family home in eastern Uganda, according to the country’s Olympic Committee. The attack, witnessed by Cheptegei’s daughters, occurred while she was at church with her children. Marangach allegedly snuck into her home in Endebess, near the border with Uganda.
The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the athletic community and beyond, prompting calls for increased action against gender-based violence.
