By Aaior K. Comfort

The man responsible for the horrific attack on Ugandan runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died from injuries sustained during the assault, according to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, Kenya.

Dickson Ndiema Marangach, who attacked Cheptegei in her home on September 1, succumbed to his injuries at around 8:00 p.m. local time. Marangach had poured petrol over Cheptegei, causing severe burns. He himself suffered 30% burns during the attack and was being treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Olympian, sustained 80% burns and passed away last week. The attack, reportedly witnessed by Cheptegei’s daughters, has drawn widespread condemnation as a tragic example of gender-based violence in Kenya.

Cheptegei was set to be buried on September 14 near her family home in eastern Uganda, as confirmed by the country’s Olympic Committee. The assault occurred just weeks after her Olympic debut in the women’s marathon at the Paris Games, where she finished 44th.

Police reported that Marangach broke into Cheptegei’s home in Endebess while she was attending church with her children. According to her father, Joseph Cheptegei, the attack stemmed from a dispute over property. Marangach had reportedly bought five liters of petrol and hid in a chicken coop before carrying out the attack.

The attack has highlighted ongoing concerns about violence against women in Kenya. In 2022, there were 725 reported cases of femicide in the country, and a 2023 report indicated that 34% of women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

Cheptegei’s death follows the tragic deaths of Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop in 2021 and Kenyan-born Bahrain athlete Damaris Mutua in 2022, both of whom were killed by their partners.

Marangach’s family has been informed of his death, and a comprehensive statement from the hospital is expected later.