Tragedy Strikes Again: Ugandan Runner’s Killer Dies

Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan Olympic athlete, was brutally attacked by her partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, in western Kenya on September 1. The attack left her with 80 per cent burns, and she sadly passed away last week. Marangach, who also sustained 30 per cent burns, has now died from his injuries.

The horrific incident has sent shockwaves across the East African country, with many condemning the senseless act of violence. Cheptegei’s family had been informed of Marangach’s death, and a comprehensive statement is expected to be released later.

This tragic event is just the latest in a string of devastating cases of gender-based violence in Kenya. In 2022, the country saw 725 femicide cases, and a 2023 report found that 34 per cent of women had experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

Cheptegei’s death follows the tragic deaths of two other athletes, Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, who were also killed by their ex-partners. Tirop’s estranged partner is currently on trial, denying the charges.

The attack on Cheptegei came just weeks after she made her Olympic debut in the women’s marathon at the Paris Games, where she finished 44th. Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, revealed that the dispute with Marangach had been over the property where she lived with her sister and daughters. Marangach had even hidden out in a chicken coop before the attack, armed with five litres of petrol.

Cheptegei is set to be buried on September 14 near her family home in eastern Uganda. Her death is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating impact of gender-based violence and the need for greater action to protect women and girls around the world.