Man accused of killing Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei by setting her on fire dies
Dickson Ndiema is reported to have suffered 30% burns after setting fire to Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei with petrol during an attack in Kenya.
A man accused of killing a Ugandan Olympian by setting her on fire has also died from injuries sustained in the attack.
Marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, died last Thursday after she was left severely injured following the attack in Kenya.
Dickson Ndiema, her alleged attacker and former partner, died on Monday night at the intensive care unit where he had been admitted after also sustaining injuries in the attack.
He was admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in the Kenyan city of Eldoret, the same facility where Ms Cheptegei was treated.
A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed to the Associated Press on Tuesday that Ndiema had died.
He was previously accused of buying a can of petrol, pouring it on her, and setting her on fire.
Ms Cheptegei suffered 80% burns to her body in the attack, while Ndiema also reportedly suffered 30% burns.
A report filed by the local police chief said the couple were heard fighting over a piece of land, where Ms Cheptegei lived, before the fire started.
Ms Cheptegei’s parents told the Kenyan news outlet, The Star, that their daughter bought land in Trans Nzoia to be near the country’s athletic training centres.
Her father told reporters last week that Ndiema, his daughter’s ex-boyfriend, had been stalking and threatening her, and the family had informed the police.
Police were treating Ms Cheptegei’s death as murder, with Ndiema named as the main suspect.
‘Deeply saddened’
Ms Cheptegei was born on the Kenyan side of the Kenya-Uganda border but chose to cross over and represent Uganda.
She is due to be buried on Saturday in her ancestral home town in Uganda, in a military ceremony, as she was a member of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), according to The Star.
Ms Cheptegei recently competed in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she finished 44th.
The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said her participation had been a source of “inspiration”.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn about Rebecca Cheptegei’s death following the horrible attack against her. Rebecca’s participation in the Paris 2024 women’s marathon was a source of inspiration, pride and joy,” Thomas Bach said.
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The Ugandan Athletics Federation also paid tribute to Ms Cheptegei, in a message on X, and described their shock at her death: “As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.”
Donald Rukare, Uganda’s Olympic Committee chief, added: “This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure.”
Ms Cheptegei also recently finished 14th in the marathon at the 2023 World Championships.
