Ex-Boyfriend of Ugandan Olympian Dies from Burns Sustained in Fatal Attack

The former boyfriend of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who killed her by setting her on fire, has died from the burns he sustained during the attack. Dickson Ndiema passed away on Monday night at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, after battling severe burns that covered over 30% of his body, a hospital official confirmed.

“It’s true he has died from the [burn] injuries,” Dr. Owen Menach from the hospital told the BBC.

The horrific incident occurred more than a week ago when Ndiema ambushed Cheptegei as she returned home from church. Armed with a five-litre jerry can of petrol, he doused the 33-year-old marathon runner and set her ablaze. According to local reports, Ndiema was also splashed with the fuel during the attack, causing him to get caught in the flames.

Cheptegei sustained 80% burns and succumbed to her injuries last Thursday, four days after the attack. Neighbours in Trans Nzoia County, in north-west Kenya, reported hearing her desperate screams for help as she ran towards them while still on fire. One neighbour, recalling the moment to the BBC, said, “I saw the athlete on fire running towards me after the attack.”

Local authorities revealed that Cheptegei and Ndiema had been embroiled in a dispute over a small piece of land. Police had been treating the case as a murder investigation, with Ndiema named as the main suspect. He had been expected to face charges before succumbing to his injuries.

The brutal killing has sent shockwaves across the world, with Ugandans mourning the loss of a beloved athlete who many described as an inspiration. Cheptegei’s death marks the third instance in the past three years where prominent female athletes in Kenya have been killed by intimate partners. In 2021, world-record holder Agnes Tirop was stabbed to death, followed by the strangling of athlete Damaris Mutua six months later.

Born on the Kenyan side of the Kenya-Uganda border, Cheptegei’s passion for running led her to cross into Uganda to pursue her dreams after facing difficulties in breaking through the Kenyan athletic system. She joined the Uganda People’s Defence Forces in 2008, where she rose to the rank of sergeant while honing her running career.

Cheptegei had competed in this year’s Paris Olympics, finishing 44th in the marathon. Despite the modest placement, she was celebrated in her home region, where locals fondly referred to her as their “champion.”

Cheptegei is set to be laid to rest on Saturday at her ancestral home in Bukwo. Her death has also reignited discussions about violence against women in Kenya, where intimate partner violence remains a significant concern. A 2022 national survey revealed that 34% of women in Kenya reported experiencing physical violence.

Cheptegei’s death shines a spotlight on the escalating violence against women in the region, where even some of the most celebrated figures are not immune to tragic fates.