Suspected killer of Kenyan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei dies in hospital

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – Dickson Ndiema, the man suspected of killing Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei of Uganda by setting her on fire, passed away early on Tuesday in a hospital in Eldoret, a city in western Kenya.

Ndiema died in the intensive care unit, the same ward where Cheptegei died earlier, at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, according to Owen Menach, the hospital's director of Clinical Services.

Menach told the media that Cheptegei's ex-boyfriend, Ndiema, was receiving treatment for severe burns sustained during the incident.

According to the Kenya police, Ndiema allegedly doused Cheptegei with petrol and set her ablaze during a dispute at their home in Trans Nzoia County.

“Dickson Ndiema Marangach has died from 30 per cent burns he sustained when he set his girlfriend Rebecca Cheptegei ablaze last week.

“The police believe he was burnt by the same petrol he used in setting Rebecca ablaze following a dispute over ownership of land one of them had bought,” said a police statement.

Both were severely burned in the incident, with Cheptegei suffering 80% burns and Ndiema 30%.

Cheptegei, 33, who competed in the 10,000-meter race at the recent Paris Olympics, died on Sept. 5.

Ndiema had been receiving treatment at MTRH, but his condition deteriorated, resulting in his death.

Police intended to charge Ndiema with murder and assault once he recovered.