Nairobi, Kenya | By Michael Wandati | Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has tragically passed away after being admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Cheptegei succumbed to injuries sustained in a domestic incident involving her Kenyan ex-boyfriend, identified as Dickson Ndiema Marangach, who allegedly set her on fire.
The attack occurred on Sunday afternoon when Dickson Ndiema Marangach, reportedly armed with petrol, entered Cheptegei’s residence and doused her in the flammable liquid before igniting it. He also sustained burns during the incident, as his clothing was soaked in petrol.
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Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, confirmed her passing, stating that she died at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday 5, September 2024 morning.
The incident followed ongoing personal conflicts between the couple, which had escalated after her return from the Paris Olympics, where Cheptegei competed in the Women’s Marathon and finished in 48th place.
Investigations revealed that the couple had been engaged in frequent disputes over a plot of land and a house.
Efforts by both families to reconcile the couple had been underway before the tragic event occurred.
