By Teddy Namayanja
Dickson Ndiema, the former partner of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, has succumbed to his injuries and passed away at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret. Ndiema’s death occurred on Monday night in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he was receiving treatment for severe burns.
This tragic development comes after Cheptegei, a renowned Ugandan athlete and Olympian, succumbed to her own burn injuries at the same facility just days earlier. The incident that led to their deaths occurred at Cheptegei’s home in Trans Nzoia, where Ndiema attacked her, dousing her with petrol and setting her ablaze. Both individuals suffered severe burns, with Cheptegei sustaining over 80% burns and Ndiema suffering more than 30% burns.
Cheptegei’s family has announced that she will be accorded a military funeral on Saturday in Uganda, befitting her status as a member of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces. The funeral will take place in Bukwo District, Eastern Uganda, and will be attended by officials from both Kenya and Uganda.
A post-mortem examination on Cheptegei’s body is scheduled for Wednesday, ahead of the funeral. Following the post-mortem, MTRH will release Cheptegei’s body on Thursday morning, which will then be transported to her home in Trans Nzoia for a night vigil.
“We want to give the community time to pay their respects and offer prayers,” said Mzee Cheptegei, the father of the late athlete.
On Friday, the body will be transported to Bukwo District, Uganda, for another overnight vigil before the burial on Saturday.
