Ex-Boyfriend Who Burned Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Alive, Dies In Hospital

A man, Dickson Ndiema, who set Ugandan Olympic marathon runner, Rebecca Cheptegei on fire has died from injuries he suffered during the attack.

KanyiDaily had reported how Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, died in an Eldoret, Kenya hospital last Sunday from multiple organ failure.

The Olympian passed away after suffering burns over 80% of her body when her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, doused her with petrol and set her ablaze.

Ndiema, who also suffered severe burns during the incident, was taken to the hospital, where police had planned to arrest him once he recovered.

However, authorities confirmed that Ndiema died from his injuries in the hospital earlier today.

A statement from the police said: “Dickson Ndiema Marangach has died from 30 per cent burns he sustained when he set his girlfriend Rebecca Cheptegei ablaze last week.

“The police believe he was burnt by the same petrol he used in setting Rebecca ablaze following a dispute over ownership of land one of them had bought.”

Neighbors heard the pair arguing at Cheptegei’s home in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya, where she had recently moved to access better training facilities.

Witnesses say Ndiema snapped, pouring petrol on Cheptegei and setting her on fire. Neighbors rushed to help, but the athlete was engulfed in flames.

Rebecca Cheptegei, originally born near the Kenyan-Ugandan border, represented Uganda in her athletic career.

In 2022, she won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand and claimed victory at the Padova marathon in Italy before placing second in the Abu Dhabi marathon with the second-fastest time by a female Ugandan.

KanyiDaily had also reported how a woman was allegedly burnt to death by her husband because she travelled for her mother’s burial preparation.