Benjamin Kiplagat: Suspects to Be Held for 21 Days As Uganda Mourns Kenyan-Born Athlete

• The investigations around the death of Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat intensify
• Uganda’s First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports sent her condolences on Twitter
• The Kenyan-born athlete was found dead with stab wounds to his neck and chest

Uganda is in mourning following the tragic death of Benjamin Kiplagat, a celebrated Olympic athlete, who was fatally stabbed on New Year's Eve in Kimumu estate, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya.

The news was deeply sad, with Uganda's First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, expressing her condolences in an official statement.

Authorities responded to a distress call initially reported as an accident, but preliminary investigations pointed towards a potential deliberate attack, as confirmed by Moiben Sub-County Police Commander Stephen Okal.

The incident occurred when assailants on a motorcycle obstructed Kiplagat's path, resulting in a collision with his vehicle. Tragically, Kiplagat was found lifeless with stab wounds to his chest and a deep cut on his neck, as reported by the BBC.

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In a swift response, local law enforcement in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, apprehended two key suspects connected to the murder. The suspects, David Ekhai Lokere and Peter Ushuru Khalumi were brought before the Eldoret Law Courts on January 2, 2024, for a miscellaneous application related to the case.

The court ruled that they be held at the Eldoret Police Station for 21 days to allow thorough investigations into this shocking crime that has left the athletics community in disbelief.

"This truly wonderful spirited son of ours had his life ended and taken from this earth for selfish reasons. My deepest sympathy goes out to our nation, his family, and the entire sports fraternity," Janet Museveni expressed her sympathy in a heartfelt message on her Twitter handle.

Originally from Marakwet East, Kiplagat had been training in the Eldoret area before pursuing his athletic endeavours in Uganda.

He represented Uganda in various international competitions, narrowly missing the podium in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and reaching the semifinals in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

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Kiplagat's achievements also include a bronze medal at the 2012 Africa Championships in Porto Novo, Benin.

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Sports Brief previously reported on former Kenya international George Obonyo Adul's death in December 2023 in Mombasa.

Ray Dawa, ex-player and Chair of Mombasa Sports Club announced that Adul would be laid to rest on January 5, 2024, at their farm in Mtwapa, Kilifi.

He spoke of the family's financial challenges, appealing for support to settle the hospital bills and cover the funeral expenses.