Kenyan police announced on Monday that they had arrested two individuals in connection with the stabbing death of Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat over the weekend. The suspects, both in their 30s and known criminals, were apprehended on the outskirts of Eldoret in the Rift Valley.
Local police commander Stephen Okal stated, “The two suspects are known criminals who have been terrorizing the members of the public.” The investigation is in an advanced stage, and the police aim to present the suspects in court soon.
Benjamin Kiplagat, a Kenyan-born athlete representing Uganda in the 3,000m steeplechase, was found dead in a car on Saturday night with a deep knife wound to his neck. The motive behind the killing remains unknown, but police revealed that Kiplagat had been “waylaid” by the two men after colliding with their motorcycle.
Okal explained, “This probably provoked them into that violent act,” referring to the stabbing. One of the suspects was arrested with a knife believed to have been used in the killing.
Eldoret, a town in the Rift Valley known for its high-altitude training hub for athletes, has become the backdrop for this tragic incident. Kiplagat, with an 18-year career, achieved notable successes, including a silver medal at the 2008 World Junior Championships and bronze at the Africa Championships in 2012. His death follows the October 2021 killing of Kenyan distance running star Agnes Tirop in her home near Eldoret.
