Rédaction Africa Links 24 with AFP
Published on 2024-01-31 17:26:35
Two men, David Ekhai Lokere and Peter Ushuru Khalumi, were charged with the murder of Ugandan Olympic distance runner Benjamin Kiplagat on New Year’s Eve. They appeared before a magistrate’s court in Eldoret, Kenya, where they denied the charges.
Prosecutors opposed their request for bail, citing their criminal record and the possibility of them fleeing. The accused, both aged 25 and 30, were arrested hours after the body of Kiplagat, 34, was found with a stab wound to his neck.
The motive for the murder is still unknown, but police have indicated that Kiplagat was “waylaid” by the two men before he hit their motorcycle with his car on the outskirts of Eldoret.
Kiplagat, a 3,000m steeplechase specialist, had a career spanning 18 years and represented Uganda at several Olympic Games and World Championships. He won a silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2008 World Junior Championships and a bronze at the Africa Championships in 2012.
His death follows the killing of Kenyan distance running star Agnes Tirop in October 2021. Tirop, 25, was found stabbed to death in her home in Iten, a high-altitude training hub near Eldoret. Kiplagat’s family believes that he was not specifically targeted but fell victim to thieves.
He was buried in his ancestral home in Kenya and is survived by his expectant wife, Viola, and a 13-year-old daughter. Kiplagat’s death has shocked the running community and has raised concerns about the safety of athletes, particularly in the Eldoret region.
The tragic events have underlined the dangers faced by athletes and the need for improved security measures, especially in Eldoret and its surrounding areas. The deaths of Kiplagat and Tirop have sent shockwaves through the athletics world and have reignited conversations about the safety and security of athletes, both at home and while training or competing abroad.
As Kiplagat’s family and the running community mourn the loss of the talented athlete, they are also calling for justice to be served. The court case against Lokere and Khalumi will be closely watched as the world waits for answers and closure in this senseless act of violence against a beloved athlete.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
