Two Men Charged With Ugandan Olympian Benjamin Kiplagat’s Murder In Kenya

 

In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• Two men, David Ekhai Lokere and Peter Ushuru Khalumi, charged with the murder of Ugandan Olympic distance runner Benjamin Kiplagat.

• The 34-year-old athlete was found stabbed on New Year's Eve.

• Lokere and Khalumi denied the charges during their appearance before a magistrate's court in Eldoret, Kenya.

• Prosecutors opposed their bail request, citing their criminal records and the potential flight risk.

• The accused were arrested on January 1, hours after Kiplagat's body was discovered with a stab wound to his neck.

• Police reported that Kiplagat was "waylaid" by the two men after a collision between his car and their motorcycle on the outskirts of Eldoret.

• Kiplagat, a Kenyan-born steeplechase specialist, represented Uganda internationally for 18 years, participating in multiple Olympic Games and World Championships.

• The motive behind the attack remains unknown.

• The tragedy follows the October 2021 killing of Kenyan distance running star Agnes Tirop near Eldoret.

• Kiplagat's family believes he may have been a victim of thieves rather than a targeted attack.

• The late runner, buried in his ancestral home in Kenya, leaves behind an expectant wife, Viola, and a 13-year-old daughter.

Two Men Face Charges in Connection With Benjamin Kiplagat’s Murder

Two individuals, David Ekhai Lokere and Peter Ushuru Khalumi, faced murder charges on Wednesday in connection with the tragic death of Ugandan Olympic distance runner Benjamin Kiplagat. 

The 34-year-old athlete was discovered with stab wounds on New Year's Eve, leading to a grim turn of events in the Kenyan legal system.

Lokere, 25, and Khalumi, 30, pleaded not guilty during their appearance before a magistrate's court in Eldoret, a town in the Rift Valley. 

However, their request for bail was met with opposition from State counsel Antony Fedha, who pointed out their criminal records and the potential flight risk they posed.

The accused were apprehended on January 1, shortly after the lifeless body of Kiplagat, a steeplechase specialist, was found with a stab wound to his neck. 

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While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, police indicated that Kiplagat had been ambushed by Lokere and Khalumi after colliding with their motorcycle on the outskirts of Eldoret.

Kiplagat, a Kenyan-born athlete representing Uganda internationally, had an illustrious 18-year career in the 3,000m steeplechase. 

His achievements included winning a silver medal at the 2008 World Junior Championships and a bronze at the Africa Championships in 2012. 

He also participated in multiple Olympic Games and World Championships, making it to the semi-finals in the 2012 London Olympics and competing again in Rio in 2016.

The tragedy follows the October 2021 killing of Kenyan distance running star Agnes Tirop, who was found stabbed to death at the age of 25 in her home near Eldoret. Kiplagat's family believes he may have fallen victim to thieves rather than being specifically targeted.

The late runner, laid to rest in his ancestral home in Kenya, leaves behind an expectant wife, Viola, and a 13-year-old daughter. 

The circumstances surrounding Kiplagat's death highlight the vulnerability of athletes, even those with international acclaim, to unforeseen and tragic events.