Kenyan prosecutors have charged David Ekhai Lokere and Peter Ushuru Khalumi with the murder of Ugandan Olympic distance runner Edward Benjamin Kiplagat. The 34-year-old steeplechase specialist was found stabbed on New Year’s Eve. Lokere, 25, and Khalumi, 30, were arrested on January 1, shortly after the discovery of Kiplagat’s body with a neck stab wound.
| Key Details | Charges |
|---|---|
| Murder Suspects | David Ekhai Lokere and Peter Ushuru Khalumi |
| Date of Arrest | January 1, 2024 |
| Charges | Murder of Benjamin Kiplagat |
| Denial of Charges | Lokere and Khalumi pleaded not guilty in Eldoret Magistrate’s Court. |
| Prosecution’s Stand | State counsel Antony Fedha opposed bail, citing the duo’s criminal record and flight risk. |
While the motive behind the murder remains unknown, the police reported that Kiplagat was “waylaid” by the two men after a collision between his car and their motorcycle on the outskirts of Eldoret.
Benjamin Kiplagat, a Kenyan-born athlete who represented Uganda internationally in the 3,000m steeplechase, had a successful career spanning 18 years. He won silver at the 2008 World Junior Championships and bronze at the Africa Championships in 2012. Kiplagat participated in multiple Olympic Games, making the semi-finals in the 2012 Olympics in London and competing in Rio in 2016.
Kiplagat’s tragic death follows the October 2021 killing of Kenyan distance running star Agnes Tirop, found stabbed at the age of 25 in her home at Iten, near Eldoret.
The family believes Kiplagat was not specifically targeted but fell victim to thieves. He is survived by an expectant wife, Viola, and a 13-year-old daughter. Kiplagat was laid to rest in his ancestral home in Kenya.
