ELDORET, Kenya—The individual accused of dousing Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei in petrol and setting her on fire has passed away from burns sustained during the tragic attack on the Ugandan athlete, as confirmed by a hospital official on Tuesday.
Cheptegei, aged 33, who participated in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, suffered burns on over 75 percent of her body during the assault on September 1st and succumbed to her injuries four days later.
Her former partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, passed away at 18:30 (15:30 GMT) on Monday, as announced by Philip Kirwa, the chief executive officer of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, western Kenya, where both Marangach and Cheptegei were treated.
“He experienced respiratory failure due to severe airway burns and sepsis, ultimately leading to his demise,” stated Kirwa in a press release.
Kirwa disclosed that Marangach had sustained more than 41 percent burns following the attack on Cheptegei, which reportedly occurred after she returned home from church with her children.
Cheptegei, who placed 44th in Paris, is the third prominent female athlete to have lost her life in Kenya since October 2021. Her tragic death has brought attention to the issue of domestic violence in the East African nation, particularly within the running community.
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“This individual has met his end due to his actions against my daughter. His death is a consequence of his own deeds,” expressed Joseph Cheptegei, father of Rebecca, to Reuters.
Human rights organizations emphasize that female athletes in Kenya, where numerous international runners train in the high-altitude regions, are vulnerable to exploitation and violence by men attracted to their substantial prize money, exceeding local earnings.
“True justice would have been for him to face imprisonment and reflect on his actions. This news brings no solace whatsoever,” remarked Viola Cheptoo, co-founder of Tirop’s Angels, a support group for survivors of domestic violence within Kenya’s athletic sphere.
“The grief over Rebecca’s tragic passing is still fresh,” added Cheptoo in her statement to Reuters.
Cheptoo co-established Tirop’s Angels in memory of Agnes Tirop, a promising figure in Kenya’s fiercely competitive athletics domain, who was discovered deceased in her Iten residence in October 2021, bearing multiple stab wounds on her neck.
Ibrahim Rotich, Tirop’s spouse, has been indicted for her murder and has pleaded not guilty. The legal proceedings are ongoing.
