Ex-partner of Cheptegei succumbs to burn-related injuries.
The demise of Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei ignited mourning and indignation. Her ex-lover, the offender, wouldn't be brought to justice. Unfortunately, he met his end. He perished due to the injuries he sustained from his arson attack.
Following Rebecca Cheptegei's death a few days ago, her ex-boyfriend also met his end due to burn injuries he sustained in the attack. Dickson Ndiema Marangach had doused Cheptegei in gasoline after church last week and set her alight.
The athlete, who placed 44th in the marathon events at the Paris Olympics, passed away on Thursday. She had burns covering over 75% of her body.
Marangach also sustained severe injuries in the attack. He breathed his last in the wee hours of Monday on an intensive care unit, as per a Kenyan hospital official. Over 30% of his body was burned. Initially, his condition was reported to be improving. Marangach faced a murder charge.
"From the perspective of the significant other"
According to local authorities, the couple had been quarreling over a small plot of land in northwest Kenya where Cheptegei resided and trained. Media sources mentioned that Cheptegei wished to construct a house for herself and her children on that land.
Cheptegei's parents criticized the police for not heeding their complaints against her ex-companion. "This man followed her everywhere, even when she recently visited Uganda," said Cheptegei's father. "The police at the local station favored her partner. No action was taken, not even after a report was filed just before the incident. Cheptegei leaves behind two daughters from a previous relationship."
The attack on Cheptegei triggered grief and anger, being perceived as yet another gruesome example of gender-based violence in Kenya. At least two other athletes have been murdered by their partners in Kenya since 2021. Majority of female murders are perpetrated by partners or family members. Africa records the highest number of femicides worldwide, almost ten times more than in Europe, according to UN figures.
Cheptegei is scheduled to be laid to rest on September 14 near her parents' home in eastern Uganda, as reported by the Ugandan Olympic Committee.
After the tragic incident, the European Union expressed condemnation for the rising gender-based violence in Kenya. The European Union also pledged support for Kenya's efforts to enhance safety measures for its female athletes.
The attack on Rebecca Cheptegei sparked worldwide outrage, prompting international organizations, including the European Union, to call for stricter action against gender-based violence.
