Former boyfriend accused of lighting Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, on fire also dead from injuries sustained in the arson attack

Dickson Ndiema, the estranged boyfriend of Cheptegei, died at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, on Monday evening

Ndiema, witnessed said, set Ugandan Olympic runner on fire, on September 1 in the presence of her daughters, 11 and 9, following a property dispute

Cheptegei who sustained burns over 80 percent of her body died from organ failure on four days later

Ndiema admitted to in ICU at the same hospital with burns over 30 percent of his body, died today of respiratory failure from sepsis

Rebecca Cheptegei running during the women’s marathon final for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Aug. 26, 2023

The ex-boyfriend accused of torching Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei with the aid of an accelerant, has died from the injuries he sustained in the horrifying arson attack.
Dickson Ndiema died at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, on Monday evening, sources from the hospital revealed. According to the reports Ndiema died due to respiratory failure as a result of severe airway burns and sepsis.
Ndiema, the estranged boyfriend of Cheptegei, was hospitalized after the alleged attack on the Olympian and was placed in an intensive care unit with burns over 30 percent of his body.
Cheptegei was hospitalized in the same facility as Ndiema, arrived with 80 percent of her body burned.
She Olympian died from organ failure on Thursday.
“The damage had already occurred by the time she was coming in,” Dr. Kimani Mbugua said last week.
“We supported her organs as best as we could, but unfortunately, it was beyond what we could do.”
She was 33.

Accused arson killer, Dickson Ndiema, [photo], died at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, on Monday Sept 10

Ndiema reportedly broke into Cheptegei’s home, near the Ugandan border, while she was attending a church service with her 9 and 11-year-old daughters on Sunday, September 1.
Ambushing Cheptegei when she returned home, around 2 pm local time, he poured gasoline, then set her on her on fire during a dispute over the land on which the property sits.
Cheptegei who reportedly met Ndiema after walking out her marriage in 2023, in Uganda, bought the land and built her home near the country’s athletic training center, according to Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom.
Her parents confirmed that their daughter bought the land for it’s proximity to the area where the country’s top athletes trained.
The boyfriend who eventually killed the family’s breadwinner, had been invited to stay in the home with Rebecca and her daughters for the brief time they were together before she asked him to leave when the relationship ran it’s course.
He had since been threatening Rebecca and she was in fear of her life even before leaving for the Paris Olympics.

The Olympic athlete’s ex Ndiema [photo], was also hospitalized after the arson attack. He was placed in ICU with burns over 30 percent of his body in the gasoline fire that he deliberately started

Neighbors heard the former couple fighting hard over the land before the fire started.
One of Cheptegei’s daughters revealed that she found her mother burning and was allegedly kicked by Ndiema as she attempted to put out the flames.
He kicked me while I tried to run to the rescue of my mother,” the child told local media.
“I immediately cried out for help, attracting a neighbor who tried to extinguish the flames with water, but it was not possible.”
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, early this morning, who tragically fell victim to domestic violence,” The Uganda Athletics Federation wrote on X, eulogizing the Olympic runner.

Cheptegei seen competing at the Discovery 10km road race in Kapchorwa, Uganda, on Jan. 20, 2023, was the lead runner in her training camp, fellow athletes said

“As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.”
Cheptegei finished in 44th place in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics last month.
The marathoner also won the Padova Marathon in Italy and finished fourth in the Abu Dhabi Marathon in 2022.
She represented Uganda in the 2011 and 2013 World Cross Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain, and Bydgoszcz, Poland.