Rebecca Cheptegei’s boyfriend, who was involved in a violent attack on the runner, has passed away, adding to the tragic nature of the event.
The Kenyan hospital that treated the attacker responsible for brutally attacking Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei has announced his death due to injuries sustained during the incident.
After attacking Cheptegei in her residence located in western Kenya on September 1, Dickson Ndiema Marangach ultimately passed away while being cared for within the intensive care unit of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) situated in Eldoret.
Cheptegei, a mother of two, suffered severe burns on 80 percent of her body in the attack and tragically succumbed to her injuries shortly thereafter. Likewise, Marangach experienced burn wounds affecting 30 percent of his body during the assault and passed away several days later.
The investigation into the dreadful occurrence is still ongoing, as confirmed by authorities. An AFP official stated that Marangach had passed away at a hospital but requested anonymity and mentioned that they would release a detailed statement in due time.
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The attack on the 33-year-old jogger has caused shock and sparked a renewed focus on gender-related violence in East Africa.
Just weeks after making her Olympic debut at the Paris Games and finishing 44th in the women’s marathon, Cheptegei has passed away.
Cheptegei’s daughters reportedly saw the attack, which was carried out by Marangach. They had a property dispute that lasted for some time and it is alleged that while Cheptegei was at church, Marangach sneaked into her home and poured gasoline over her before setting her ablaze.
According to Joseph Cheptegei, father of Cheptegei, Marangach procured five litres of petrol prior to the attack and concealed herself in a chicken coop. When her sister attempted to intervene, Marangach brandished a machete at her and coerced her into running away.
A troubling trend of aggression towards women in Kenya can be observed, with the recent tragedy being a part of it. The year 2022 saw an alarming record of 725 cases categorized as femicide. Additionally, a report by Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics revealed that about one-third (34%) female population has undergone physical violence since they turned fifteen years old in 2023.
After the homicides of record-setting Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop in 2021 and Bahraini athlete Damaris Mutua, who was originally from Kenya, in 2022 – both at the hands of their significant others – Cheptegei’s passing has occurred. On September 14th, near her family residence located in eastern Uganda, Cheptegei will be laid to rest.
The assault has garnered extensive criticism and emphasized the pressing requirement to tackle the increasing occurrences of gender-oriented aggression in the area.
