In a heart-wrenching conclusion to a horrific tale of domestic violence, Dickson Ndiema, the former boyfriend who senselessly took the life of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei by setting her ablaze, has himself fallen victim to the same fiery fate.
He had been admitted with burns on more than 40% of his body.
Ndiema’s demise yesterday’s night at the intensive care unit of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of his actions.
A statement released from Moi Teaching, Referral Hospital said “He developed respiratory failure as result of the severe airway burns and sepsis which led to his death on Monday evening despite life-saving measures.”
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Cheptegei, a talented marathon runner who donned the Ugandan flag with pride at the Paris Olympics, tragically lost her life last Thursday due to the severe burns that engulfed over 80% of her body.
The brutal attack, which transpired in western Kenya’s Trans Nzoia county, was allegedly sparked by a land dispute, a stark testament to the destructive power of unchecked emotions and the devastating toll of domestic violence.
As the news of Ndiema’s passing spreads, the criminal case against him has been rendered moot, and an inquest into the dual tragedies will be initiated in its stead. Meanwhile, the world mourns the loss of Cheptegei, a shining star whose promising life was extinguished by the very person who was supposed to love and cherish her.
Her untimely death has ignited a firestorm of outrage and sorrow, casting a spotlight on the pervasive issue of domestic violence that continues to plague Kenya and beyond.
As Cheptegei prepares to embark on her final journey, to be laid to rest at her ancestral home in Bukwo, Uganda, on Saturday, we are reminded of the boundless potential that was brutally snuffed out, a poignant reminder of the urgent need for collective action against this scourge.
