Dickson Ndiema, the ex-boyfriend of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, has died in a hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.
Ndiema, who was also admitted at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), succumbed to the wounds incurred from the incident that saw him suffer burns to 30 percent of his body.
The hospital confirmed that Ndiema died on Monday night, September 9, 2024, at the ICU where he had been admitted, a few days after the death of Rebecca Cheptegei, his girlfriend.
He was rushed to the facility following an altercation that saw Ndiema douse Cheptegei in petrol before setting her on fire.
According to an eyewitness who preferred to be anonymous Stated that the former couple’s altercation reportedly escalated from a land dispute, resulting in the tragic attack.
Cheptegei, a celebrated Ugandan athlete, had a distinguished career that spanned over 15 years. She won the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in 2022 and competed 44th in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The incident has cast a spotlight on the urgent need to address domestic violence, with Cheptegei’s death being a grim reminder of the dangers faced by women in abusive relationships.
