Dickson Ndiema, the former partner of Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, has died from severe burns he sustained after a violent attack on her. Over a week ago, Ndiema ambushed Cheptegei as she was returning home from church in Kenya. He doused her with petrol and set her on fire, resulting in fatal burns that led to her death.
The attack was reportedly sparked by a protracted dispute over a piece of land in north-west Kenya, where Cheptegei both lived and trained. The land conflict, which had been ongoing, is believed to have significantly contributed to the escalation of Ndiema’s violent actions.
Following the assault, Ndiema was admitted to a hospital with severe burns covering over 30% of his body. Despite receiving extensive medical treatment in the intensive care unit, he succumbed to his injuries on Monday night. The tragic circumstances of this case bring renewed attention to serious issues of domestic violence and the need for effective conflict resolution strategies.
