Nkonkonsa Celebrity Gossip From Africa
A Kenyan hospital official has announced that the ex-boyfriend of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who died after setting her on fire, has also passed away from injuries sustained in the incident.
More than a week ago, Dickson Ndiema attacked the marathon runner on her way back from church. After that, he poured petrol on her and lit her on fire.
Cheptegei lived and trained in north-west Kenya, where local administrators reported a dispute over a small piece of land between him and the other individual.
Ndiema passed away on Monday evening in the intensive care unit after being admitted with burns on over 40% of his body, as reported by the hospital.
“He developed respiratory failure as a result of the severe airway burns and sepsis that led to his eventual death on Monday evening at 18:30 hours [15:30 GMT] despite life-saving measures,” a press release from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital said.
Cheptegei died last Thursday – four days after she was attacked. She suffered burns to more than 80% of her body.
Neighbours said that on the day of the attack, they heard screams before Cheptegei came running towards them shouting for help.
Local media reported that Ndiema had sneaked into Cheptegei’s home in western Kenya’s Trans Nzoia county with a five-litre jerrycan full of petrol.
Some of the fuel he poured on Cheptegei splashed onto his own body, according to reports. As a result, Ndiema got caught in the fire after he set his former partner alight.
Ndiema was to face charges as police said they were treating Cheptegei’s death as murder, with the former boyfriend named as the main suspect.
But now that Ndiema has died, the criminal case has been dropped and an inquest into the two deaths will be opened instead.
Both Ndiema and Cheptegei were admitted to Moi Hospital before their deaths.
Cheptegei’s death shocked people across the world, with fellow Ugandans saying she was an inspiration to them.
NKONKONSA.com
