In a tragic turn of events, two suspects have been apprehended in connection with the murder of athlete Benjamin Kiplagat in Eldoret, Kenya.
The grim incident, captured on CCTV, unfolded on a fateful Saturday night, leading to Kiplagat’s untimely demise at the age of 34.
Moiben sub county police commander, Stephen Okal, revealed that a knife believed to be the murder weapon was discovered in the possession of one of the suspects.
It’s suspected that the motive behind the heinous act was robbery, as money and a cellphone belonging to Kiplagat were reported missing.
The grim discovery of Kiplagat’s lifeless body, with his throat slit, was made early Sunday in his brother’s vehicle on the outskirts of Eldoret.
Eldoret, known for its high-altitude terrain and esteemed status as a training hub for elite athletes, now bears witness to this tragedy.
Kiplagat, a seasoned athlete who represented Kenya in three Olympic games and six world championships, notably clinched a bronze medal at the 2012 African championships.
His contributions to the sport and his promising career have been abruptly cut short by this senseless act of violence.
Regrettably, Kiplagat’s death marks yet another grim chapter in the region’s recent history, with him becoming the fourth athlete to fall victim to such tragedy.
The area mourns the loss of talent and potential, following in the footsteps of other fallen stars like Agnes Tirop, a two-time cross country world champion, and Kenyan-born Bahrain runner Damaris Muthee.
Tirop met her end in 2021, fatally stabbed in her Iten home, with her husband currently standing trial for her murder.
Similarly, Muthee’s life was tragically cut short in 2022, with her decomposing body discovered at the residence of a male Ethiopian athlete, who remains the primary suspect in her demise. Yet, justice eludes her as the suspect evades apprehension.