Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan Olympic marathoner, was brutally attacked by her ex-boyfriend, who has since died from the injuries he sustained during the incident, a Kenyan hospital official confirmed.
Dickson Ndiema ambushed Cheptegei as she returned home from church just over a week ago. He poured petrol over her and set her on fire, authorities said. The two had reportedly been in a dispute over a small plot of land in northwest Kenya, where Cheptegei both lived and trained.
Ndiema was hospitalized with severe burns to over 40% of his body but passed away on Monday night in the intensive care unit of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. A hospital statement revealed that despite medical intervention, Ndiema succumbed to respiratory failure caused by extensive airway burns and sepsis.
Cheptegei had died just four days earlier after suffering burns to more than 80% of her body. Witnesses recalled hearing her cries for help before she collapsed after running to nearby homes. According to local reports, Ndiema entered Cheptegei’s home in Trans Nzoia County carrying a five-litre container of petrol. During the attack, some of the fuel also splashed onto him, which ultimately led to his own injuries.
Authorities had been preparing to charge Ndiema with murder, but his death has now halted the criminal proceedings. An inquest into both deaths is expected to take place.
Cheptegei and Ndiema were both treated at Moi Hospital before succumbing to their injuries. Cheptegei’s death has left many shocked, especially in Uganda, where she was celebrated for her athletic achievements.
The 33-year-old Olympian is the third female athlete in Kenya to have been killed in the past three years, with each case allegedly involving current or former intimate partners. Among the other victims were world-record holder Agnes Tirop, who was stabbed to death in 2021, and Damaris Mutua, who was strangled just six months later.
Reflecting on Ndiema’s death, Beatrice Ayikoru, secretary-general of the Uganda Olympic Committee, commented: “I don’t wish harm on anyone, but I would have liked him to face justice as an example for others so that these violent attacks on women can stop.”
There is increasing concern over the vulnerability of female athletes, as they often challenge traditional gender norms. “They defy the expectation that women should just be in the kitchen, cooking and taking care of children. Now, female athletes are becoming financially independent,” said Joan Chelimo, co-founder of Tirop’s Angels, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of violence against women.
Cheptegei, who was born on the Kenyan side of the border, chose to represent Uganda after struggling to make progress in Kenya’s athletic system. She joined the Uganda People’s Defence Forces in 2008, eventually earning the rank of sergeant. Among her accomplishments was a 44th place finish in the marathon at this year’s Paris Olympics, as well as winning gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand in 2022.
Her funeral will take place this Saturday in Bukwo, Uganda, her ancestral home.
Violence against women remains a significant issue in Kenya, with a 2022 survey revealing that 34% of women had experienced physical violence. “We don’t want this to happen to any other woman, whether an athlete, a villager, or a young girl,” said Rachel Kamweru, a spokesperson for Kenya’s department of gender and affirmative action.
Cheptegei’s tragic death serves as another somber reminder of the ongoing crisis of violence against women in Kenya and around the world.
