Photos of the ex-boyfriend accused of being responsible for the death of Olympic marathan runner Rebecca Cheptegei have been revealed by media for the first time.
The tragic event happened in front of the eyes of her daughter, as the 33-year-old suffered burns to 80 percent of her body in an attack on 1 September.
Following the incident, the Ugandan Olympian was rushed to the intensive care unit at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, but Dr Owen Menach, the acting director at the facility, confirmed that the sportswoman died early this morning (5 September), saying: “It is sad that we lost the patient early this morning after all organs failed at about 5am while we were doing our best to save her life.”
Cheptegei competed at this summer’s games. (AFP via Getty Images)
Earlier this week, the athlete’s father claimed that his daughter and her ex-boyfriend were fighting over land at Endebess, a town in Kenya, before the attack took place.
Speaking to The Star, Mr Cheptegei said: “They were just friends and I wonder why he wanted to take away things belonging to my daughter,” also revealing that her two children are fathered by another man living in Uganda.
The pair were set to appear before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kitale, Kenya, over a land tussle.
He added: “‘Her attacker was a friend they met in Kenya and my daughter trusted him.
“They fell out recently but the suspect sneaked into her compound on Sunday afternoon, armed with five litres of petrol and hid in a poultry house.
“Rebecca was outside the house when the suspect appeared and immediately poured petrol on her before lighting the fire,” he claimed.
Mr Cheptegei concluded: “My daughter called for help by asking her sister who was in the home to bring a blanket to put off the fire but the suspect who was armed with a machete chased her away and Rebecca burnt.”
But now, photos of the perpetrator have been released on social media.
Dickson Ndiema is said to be responsible for her death (Facebook)
Ndiema was said to also have sustained burn injuries from the attack, as Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah Ole Kosiom confirmed that there was an argument between the two.
“The man is believed to have sneaked into the compound at around 2pm on Sunday while the woman and the children were in church. Upon returning, Dickson, who had procured petrol, began pouring it on Rebecca before he set her a blaze,” Kosiom explained.
“The two were rescued by neighbours who put out the fire and rushed them to hospital at Kitale County Referral Hospital where they were attended to with multiple burns. At the scene a five litre yellow jerrican, a bag and a black marvin believed to be for Dickson and a burnt mobile phone believed to be for Rebecca was found and collected for forensic analysis,” he further revealed.
Sadly, one of Cheptegei’s daughters is said to have witnessed the attack at her mother’s home, telling Kenya’s The Standard: “I immediately cried out for help, attracting a neighbour who tried to extinguish the flames with water, but it was not possible,” the unnamed girl said.
Mr Cheptegei also added that the attacker was an ‘animal’ who had tormented Rebecca for months before this horrid act.
Cheptegei finished in 44th place at the Olympics in Paris (Jiang Qiming/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)
The president of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) Donald Rukare shared in a post on X today: ‘We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei… following a vicious attack by her boyfriend.
“This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure,” he concluded.
Peter Ogwang, the Minister of State for Education & Sports also put out a statement, saying: “I have just received disturbing news about the tragic death of Uganda’s athlete Rebecca Cheptegei this morning in Kenya.
“The Kenyan authorities are investigating the circumstances under which she died and a more detailed report & program will be provided in due course.
“The long-distance runner represented us in the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympics. I send my deepest condolences to the family, relatives, sports fraternity and Ugandans at large.”
