The world was stunned last week by the tragic news of Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei. Less than a week after being attacked, the man accused of setting her on fire, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, has died from his injuries.
The horror began on September 5, when Cheptegei, fresh from competing in the Paris Olympics and finishing 44th in the marathon, returned home from church with her two daughters. Reports say that her ex-boyfriend, Marangach, poured petrol on her and set her alight. Cheptegei suffered severe burns covering 80 percent of her body and tragically succumbed to her injuries.
The Ugandan Athletics Federation expressed their grief on Twitter: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace.”
Just five days later, the news emerged that Marangach had also died. He reportedly sustained burns to 30 percent of his own body during the attack. A spokesperson for Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, confirmed his death at 7:50 p.m. local time on Monday, September 9. “He died from his injuries, the burns he sustained,” the spokesperson told Reuters.
Cheptegei’s death marks the third time since October 2021 that a top female athlete has been killed in Kenya. The country is known for attracting international runners for its high-altitude training, but these athletes often face exploitation and violence from those drawn to the large prize money that far exceeds local incomes.
Viola Cheptoo, co-founder of Tirop’s Angels, a support group for survivors of domestic violence in Kenya’s athletic community, commented on Marangach’s death: “Justice really would have been for him to sit in jail and think about what he had done. This is not positive news whatsoever.”
Very sad news.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 5, 2024
Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died days after being doused in petrol and set on fire by a former boyfriend, a Ugandan official says. pic.twitter.com/4J3gMekJTU
In a heart-wrenching account, neighbors described their desperate attempt to save Cheptegei. Agnes Barabara, who lives next door, told the BBC: “When I came out, I saw Rebecca running towards my house on fire, shouting: ‘Help me.’ As I went to look for water and started calling out for help, her assailant appeared again and doused more petrol on her.”