A court in Kenya has sentenced two men to 35 years each for the murder of Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat, who was killed on New Year’s Eve in Eldoret, a town known for its elite athletic training.
During the sentencing hearing, Justice Reuben Nyakundi condemned the actions of Peter Ushuru Khalumi and David Ekai Lokere, stating, “Your actions were cruel to a defenseless person whose life you cut short.”
Kiplagat’s murder sent shockwaves through Kenya, which has seen several killings of prominent athletes in recent years. The court heard that Khalumi and Lokere followed Kiplagat as he drove his car, and CCTV evidence indicated that they deliberately killed him in a premeditated attack. While the exact motive remains unclear, police initially suggested the murder was linked to robbery.
On Monday, Kiplagat’s mother emotionally urged the court to impose life sentences on the men, highlighting her son’s journey from running barefoot to becoming an international athlete and family provider. She stated, “My son had 8,000 Kenyan shillings ($62; £48) and an expensive mobile phone, but the killers did not take any of his belongings. Their mission was to painfully finish him.”
Although the judge did not grant the request for life sentences, Kiplagat’s family expressed satisfaction with the outcome, feeling that justice had been served.
Kiplagat, who was 34 at the time of his death, reached the final of the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and represented Uganda in the following two Olympic Games. He also holds the Ugandan record in the steeplechase event.
Credit: BBC News
