The man who attacked Ugandan runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died from injuries sustained during the assault, according to the Kenyan hospital where he was treated. Dickson Ndiema Marangach, who poured petrol over Cheptegei, passed away at approximately 8:00 pm on Tuesday, as confirmed by a hospital official who spoke anonymously.

The attack took place on September 1 at Cheptegei’s home in western Kenya. The 33-year-old athlete suffered severe burns over 80 percent of her body and died the following week. Marangach, who sustained 30 percent burns, had been receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

The hospital official mentioned that Marangach’s family had been notified of his death and that a detailed statement would be issued later.

Cheptegei’s tragic death has drawn widespread sorrow and outrage, highlighting the ongoing issue of gender-based violence in East Africa. Since 2021, at least two other athletes have also been victims of domestic violence.

Cheptegei was scheduled to be buried on September 14 near her family home in eastern Uganda. The attack occurred shortly after her Olympic debut in the women’s marathon at the Paris Games, where she finished 44th.

According to police, Marangach entered Cheptegei’s home in Endebess, near the Uganda border, while she was attending church with her children. The incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute over the property where Cheptegei lived with her sister and daughters.

Marangach had purchased five liters of petrol before hiding in a chicken coop and then attacking Cheptegei. He threatened Cheptegei’s sister with a machete when she attempted to intervene, causing her to flee.

Police indicated that Marangach and Cheptegei had ongoing family conflicts. The attack underscores the severe problem of violence against women in Kenya, which reported 725 femicide cases in 2022, according to the latest UN data. Additionally, a 2023 report by Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 34 percent of women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

Cheptegei’s death follows the 2021 killing of record-breaking Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop and the 2022 death of Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Mutua, both of whom were also victims of domestic violence. Tirop’s estranged partner, who is on trial, denies involvement in her murder.