Dickson Ndiema, the ex-lover of the deceased Olympian, died at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret on the night of Monday, September 10, 2024, according to local media reports.
Ndiema's death comes barely a week after Cheptegei died at the same hospital on September 6 due to organ failure.
He had been receiving treatment at the hospital in western Kenya after also suffering burns when he doused Cheptegei with petrol.
Ndiema is reported to have attacked his lover on Sunday, September 1, while she was returning home, allegedly over unresolved land issues. He sustained burns covering more than 30 percent of his body during the attack, while Cheptegei suffered burns over 80 percent of her body.
The tragic incident occurred just weeks after the 33-year-old athlete had competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, where she finished 44th.
The attack was widely condemned, with the family of the Ugandan athlete and notable figures, including the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Anita Among, and Ugandan Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, demanding justice for the Olympian.
The Kenyan government had expressed its commitment to ensuring justice for Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei.
In a statement, Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen described Cheptegei's death as a tragic loss and condemned the rising cases of gender-based violence.
'This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to combat gender-based violence in our society, which in recent years has reared its ugly head in elite sporting circles,' the minister stated.
'As a government, we remain committed to supporting justice for Rebecca. No one should have to go through such an ordeal. May her soul rest in peace,' he added.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
