Man Accused of Attacking Olympic Runner Rebecca Cheptegei Dies from Burns

The man accused of setting Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei on fire has died from burns sustained in the attack, a hospital official confirmed on Tuesday.

Dickson Ndiema Marangach, 33, passed away on Monday at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. Marangach had been receiving treatment for severe burns following the September 1 attack on Cheptegei. According to Philip Kirwa, the hospital's CEO, Marangach suffered respiratory failure due to severe airway burns and sepsis, which led to his death.

Cheptegei, a marathon runner who competed in the Paris Olympics, was severely burned in the attack and died four days later. She suffered burns to over 75% of her body. Marangach, her former boyfriend, had inflicted over 41% burns on himself during the attack.

Cheptegei’s death highlights ongoing issues of domestic violence in Kenya, particularly within the running community. This incident marks the third death of an elite female athlete in Kenya since October 2021, drawing attention to the risks faced by female athletes in the country.

Joseph Cheptegei, Rebecca’s father, expressed his anger, saying, “This guy is dead because he killed my daughter. He has died because of his actions.”

Rights groups have criticized the handling of violence against female athletes in Kenya, where many train in high-altitude areas. Viola Cheptoo, co-founder of Tirop’s Angels, a support group for survivors of domestic violence in athletics, expressed disappointment that Marangach did not face legal consequences.

Cheptoo co-founded the group in memory of Agnes Tirop, a promising athlete who was murdered in 2021. Tirop's husband, Ibrahim Rotich, faces trial for her murder.

Government data from 2022 reveals that nearly 34% of Kenyan women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, with a higher incidence among married women. A UN Women study highlights the global issue of violence against women, noting that one woman is killed by a family member every 11 minutes.

Beatrice Ayikoru, secretary-general of the Uganda Olympic Committee, expressed a desire for Marangach to have faced legal consequences, stating, “I don’t wish bad things on anyone, but of course I would have loved for him to face the law as an example for others so that these attacks on women can stop.”