Man Who Murdered Uganda-Born Olympic Athlete Dies in Gasoline Assault

On September 10, reports emerged that Dickson Ndiema Marangach, the man accused of murdering Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, has died from injuries he sustained during the attack. Marangach, 32, was pronounced dead due to severe burns affecting 40% of his body at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. This hospital was also where Cheptegei tragically lost her life just days earlier.

Marangach experienced respiratory failure linked to critical airway burns, as indicated by a statement from the hospital to The New York Times. Authorities had planned to charge Marangach with murder after he reportedly poured gasoline on Cheptegei before igniting her. Both individuals were admitted to the same hospital in Eldoret following the incident.

The horrific event unfolded shortly after Cheptegei’s participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, in which she finished 44th in the marathon event. Cheptegei sustained 80% burns in the attack, leading to her family’s urgent calls for justice against her alleged assailant.

A tribute to Cheptegei took place in Paris, organized by the Paralympic Games after the marathon racing competition. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced that a sports venue in the city would be named in honor of the late runner, stating, “Paris will not forget her.”

The tragic attack on Cheptegei occurred in her home in western Kenya, where she had returned from church with her two children. Local officials indicated that the couple had been arguing over a piece of land Cheptegei had intended to develop for her home.

Witnesses described a heated quarrel outside their residence in the small town of Endebess. Police chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom mentioned that during the dispute, Marangach was seen pouring a flammable liquid on Cheptegei and then setting her ablaze.

This incident highlights the broader issue of gender-based violence in Kenya, where a troubling number of women, including athletes, have suffered from acts of femicide. Reports indicate that at least 34% of women in the country have experienced some form of physical violence. Kenya’s Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen remarked that this tragedy underscores the pressing need to address gender-based violence, which has increasingly impacted even elite sports figures.

A 2022 U.N. report revealed that Africa had the highest rates of gender-based violence and femicide globally, with an estimated 20,000 women losing their lives to such violence that year. However, the true figures could potentially be higher.

Cheptegei is not alone in being a victim of violence targeted at female athletes. Last year, Ugandan Olympic steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was murdered by assailants in Eldoret. Additionally, in 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini runner Damaris Mutua was found strangled in Iten, and record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was discovered stabbed to death by her husband in the same town just months earlier.

“May [Cheptegei’s] gentle soul rest in peace. We strongly condemn violence against women. This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure,” said Donald Rukare, the head of Uganda’s Olympic Committee, on social media.

The tragic circumstances surrounding both Cheptegei and Marangach serve as a stark reminder of the pervasive issues of violence against women in multiple societies. The sporting community is mourning a talented athlete whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence, while advocates continue to call for urgent actions to combat these societal issues.

Source: UPI