The man accused of killing Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died in hospital, days after the horrific attack that claimed the athlete's life. Cheptegei, who recently made her Olympic debut in Paris, was allegedly doused in petrol and set on fire by her former partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, in Kenya last week. Marangach later succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack.
Cheptegei, 28, reportedly suffered burns to 75% of her body and was rushed to hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The attack occurred at her home in Kenya, shocking the athletics world and drawing attention to the issue of domestic violence in the country. Her funeral is scheduled for September 14, with top officials from Kenya and Uganda expected to attend.
Marangach, who was also burned during the incident, passed away at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. A hospital spokesperson confirmed his death, stating, "He died from his injuries, the burns he sustained." His death ends any possibility of a trial, sparking mixed reactions among those calling for justice.
Viola Cheptoo, co-founder of Tirop's Angels, a group supporting domestic violence survivors in Kenya's athletic community, expressed disappointment over the news. "Justice really would have been for him to sit in jail and think about what he had done. This is not positive news whatsoever", Cheptoo told Reuters. The organization was named after Agnes Tirop, another Kenyan runner who was murdered in 2021.
Tirop's murder shocked the nation, and her case remains ongoing. Ibrahim Rotich, Tirop's husband, was charged with her murder but has pleaded not guilty. As high-profile cases of violence against women athletes continue to surface, Kenya faces mounting pressure to address the issue of domestic violence within its sporting community.
According to government data from 2022, 34% of Kenyan women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, with married women being particularly vulnerable. The same report revealed that 41% of married women had suffered violence, drawing attention to the broader epidemic of gender-based violence in the country.
Globally, the UN reports that a woman is killed by a family member every 11 minutes. As Kenya mourns the loss of yet another promising athlete, rights groups are urging more action to protect women from domestic violence, particularly those in the public eye whose success often makes them targets of exploitation and harm.
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