Former Boyfriend of Ugandan Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei Succumbs to Burns
Dickson Ndiema, the ex-boyfriend of Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, has died from severe burns sustained during a fatal attack on the athlete. The incident, which has shocked the world, occurred over a week ago in northwest Kenya.
Ndiema ambushed Cheptegei as she returned home from church, dousing her with petrol and setting her ablaze. Local administrators revealed that the two had been embroiled in a dispute over a small piece of land where Cheptegei lived and trained.
Dr. Owen Menach from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital confirmed Ndiema’s death, stating, “It’s true he has died from the [burn] injuries.” Ndiema had been admitted to the intensive care unit with burns covering more than 30% of his body.
Cheptegei’s tragic death
Rebecca Cheptegei, who sustained 80% burns during the attack, tragically died four days later. Eyewitnesses reported hearing her screams before she ran towards neighbors, desperately shouting for help.
The police were treating Cheptegei’s death as murder, with Ndiema identified as the main suspect. Both Ndiema and Cheptegei were admitted to Moi Hospital in Eldoret before their deaths.
A Disturbing trend
Cheptegei, 33, is the third athlete to be killed in Kenya in the last three years, with intimate partners being the primary suspects in each case. In 2021, world record holder Agnes Tirop was stabbed to death, and six months later, Damaris Mutua was strangled.
Cheptegei’s legacy
Born on the Kenyan side of the Kenya-Uganda border, Cheptegei chose to represent Uganda in her athletic pursuits. She joined the Uganda People’s Defence Forces in 2008, rising to the rank of sergeant. Her career highlights included competing in this year’s Paris Olympics, where she finished 44th in the marathon. Despite the placement, she was hailed as a “champion” in her home area.
Final farewell
Rebecca Cheptegei is set to be buried on Saturday at her ancestral home in Bukwo, Uganda. Her untimely death has brought attention to the rising concern of violence against women in Kenya, where a 2022 national survey revealed that at least 34% of women had experienced physical violence.
This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for measures to protect women from violence and highlights the devastating consequences of unresolved conflicts.