Two individuals stood before a Kenyan court on Tuesday in connection with the tragic murder of Ugandan Olympic athlete Benjamin Kiplagat. Kiplagat was discovered deceased over the weekend, having suffered a fatal stab wound to his neck.
The suspects, identified as David Ekhai Lokere, also known as Timo, aged 25, and Peter Ushuru Khalumi, aged 30, were apprehended on Monday.
A magistrate’s court in Eldoret, situated in the Rift Valley, ordered their detention for 21 days to allow law enforcement to conduct further inquiries into the killing of the 34-year-old steeplechase runner.
Kiplagat’s body was found on the outskirts of Eldoret early Sunday morning, with investigations suggesting he had encountered the two men after colliding with their motorcycle using his car. W
hile the motive behind the attack remains unclear, authorities stated that the suspects had a history of menacing the public.
A notable figure in athletics, Kenyan-born Kiplagat had represented Uganda in the 3,000m steeplechase, participating in multiple Olympic Games and World Championships. His athletic achievements included a silver medal at the 2008 World Junior Championships and a bronze at the Africa Championships in 2012.
The Uganda Athletics Federation mourned Kiplagat’s untimely death, expressing deep sorrow at the loss of the talented athlete.
This incident echoes a prior tragedy in October 2021, involving the murder of Kenyan distance running star Agnes Tirop, who was fatally stabbed at the age of 25 in her Iten residence near Eldoret.
Tirop’s husband, Ibrahim Rotich, faced trial for her murder last year, denying the allegations and securing bail before the trial commenced.
