Kenyan Man Dies After Killing Ugandan Olympic Runner Rebecca Cheptegei in Horrific Gender-Based Violence Attack
A Kenyan man who brutally attacked and killed Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei has succumbed to injuries sustained during the incident. The attack, which left Cheptegei with severe burns, has sparked outrage and sorrow in both Kenya and Uganda, highlighting the alarming prevalence of gender-based violence in the region.
Dickson Ndiema Marangach, 32, assaulted Cheptegei in her home on September 1st. The 33-year-old mother-of-two suffered 80% burns and tragically passed away last week. Marangach also sustained significant burns, amounting to 41%.
According to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Marangach developed respiratory failure due to severe airway burns and sepsis, leading to his death on Monday evening.
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, expressed relief at the news of Marangach’s death, stating that it brought a sense of justice to the family. However, he criticized authorities for failing to adequately protect his daughter despite her repeated complaints about Marangach.
Local media reports indicate that Cheptegei’s young daughters witnessed the horrific attack, which occurred just weeks after her Olympic debut in the women’s marathon in Paris. Marangach reportedly snuck into her home while she was at church with her children.
The family alleges that the couple had been arguing over ownership of the property where Cheptegei resided with her sister and daughters.
Violence against women remains a pervasive issue in Kenya, with 725 femicide cases reported in 2022 alone. A recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 34% of women in the country have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
The deaths of Cheptegei and other female athletes, such as Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, in domestic violence incidents have raised concerns about the safety of women in the sports community.
