Ex-boyfriend dead after setting Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei on fire

Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei died after a brutal attack by her ex-boyfriend, who later succumbed to injuries from the same incident.

The 33-year-old athlete, who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics, was ambushed at her home in western Kenya on Sept. 1, 2024.

After being set on fire by Dickson Ndiema Marangach, her former partner, she died from severe burns on Sept. 5. Marangach died four days later, having sustained 30% burns in the attack.

Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei ‘s attack occurs amid rise in gender-based violence

Cheptegei was attacked after returning home from church with her two daughters. Marangach had been hiding in a chicken coop before dousing her with petrol and setting her on fire.

Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei’s sister fled when Marangach threatened her with a machete. The couple’s ongoing property dispute may have been the cause of the attack, as reported by local police.

The horrifying scene was witnessed by Cheptegei’s children. “He poured the petrol and lit her on fire. When she called her sister to help, he threatened her with a machete,” Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, told reporters.

Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei was rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where doctors tried to save her, but her injuries were too severe. “We tried our best but we did not succeed. Looking at her age and the over 80-percent burns she suffered, the hope of recovery was slim,” said Dr. Kimani Mbugua, head of the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Cheptegei’s ex-boyfriend dies after attack

After the attack, Marangach was admitted to the same hospital with severe burns. He succumbed to his injuries on Sept. 9, just four days after Cheptegei’s passing. “It’s true he has died from the injuries,” confirmed Dr. Owen Menach, another hospital official.

The deaths of both Cheptegei and her attacker have once again brought attention to the alarming rise in gender-based violence in Kenya.

According to the United Nations, Kenya reported 725 femicides in 2022 alone. Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen commented, saying, “More must be done to combat gender-based violence.”

Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei’s death follows that of other female athletes who have been victims of domestic violence, including Agnes Tirop in 2021 and Damaris Mutua in 2022.

International tributes pour in for late Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei

Cheptegei’s death has triggered widespread outrage, with tributes coming from around the world. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced that a sports venue in the city would be named in her honor.

“Paris will not forget her. We’ll dedicate a sports venue to her so that her memory and her story remain among us and help carry the message of equality,” Hidalgo stated.

Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who finished 44th in the Paris 2024 Olympics marathon, was well-loved by her community in Uganda. Despite the challenges in her life, she was seen as a “champion” by many in her home region. Her funeral is set for Sept. 14 in Bukwo, Uganda, where she will be remembered as a dedicated athlete and mother.