Media Wire Express Correspondent
Kenyan police said on Monday they had arrested two people in connection with the weekend stabbing to death of Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat.
The two men believed to be in their 30s were arrested on the outskirts of the Rift Valley town of Eldoret.
The Kenyan-born had represented Uganda in three Olympic Games and participated in six world championships. His notable achievements include reaching the semi-finals of the 2012 London Olympics in the 3,000m steeplechase.
The 34-year-old’s body was found in a car on Saturday night with a deep knife wound to his neck. While the motive of the killing was still unknown, police said investigations had shown that Kiplagat had been “waylaid” by the two men before he hit their motorcycle with his car.
Benjamin Kiplagat was a Ugandan long-distance runner specializing in the 3000 metres steeplechase. Kiplagat took up running following the success of Boniface Kiprop, who is from the same village as Kiplagat was, in the 2004 World Junior Championships.
Media reports said Kiplagat had been training in the Eldoret area before going to Uganda to participate in athletics competitions. Eldoret is known for being home to numerous athletes who undergo training in the high-altitude region.“An investigation has been launched and officers are on the ground pursuing leads,” local police commander Stephen Okal told reporters.He said Kiplagat’s body had a deep knife wound to his neck, suggesting he was stabbed.
“World Athletics is shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Benjamin Kiplagat,” the global athletics governing body said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.“We send our deepest condolences to his friends, family, teammates and fellow athletes. Our thoughts are with them all at this difficult time.”
Peter Ogwang, state minister for sports in Uganda, expressed similar sentiments on X.”I am saddened to hear about the death of our athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat who was reportedly murdered in Kenya. I send my deepest condolences to his family, Ugandans, and the entire East Africa for the loss of such a budding athlete who has on several occasions represented us on the international scene. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Preliminary Police investigation indicate that Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat was “hunted down in the dead of the night”, stabbed and left to die by the roadside. CCTV capture the last moments Benjamin attempted to flee from his killers, before crashing into a ditch.
