Athlete Kiplagat’s killers handed 35-year jail term

By Peter Ochieng

Two men have been handed a 35-year jail term, after being found guilty of killing Kenyan born-Ugandan athlete Edward Benjamin Kiplagat.

Kiplagat was a 3,000m steeplechase specialist.

Eldoret High Court Judge Reuben Nyakundi handed the sentence to 25-year-old David Ekai Lokere and 30-year-old Peter Ushuru Khalumi, after a keen review of all the evidence presented to him.

The evidence, including CCTV footage implicated the two men in Kiplagat's stabbing on December 31, 2023, at the Kimumu Estate in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County.

Despite being a first offence, the Judge stated that his decision was based on the strength of the evidence placed before him.

Kiplagat’s family had pushed for the life sentence of the duo. They have 14 days to appeal.

Kiplagat won the 2008 World Junior 3,000m steeplechase silver medal at 8:19.24 behind Kenyan Jonathan Ndiku Muia who finished the race in a time of 8:17.28.

He represented Uganda in many world events as well as the continental championships. He flew the Ugandan flag at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, finishing 4th in the 3,000m steeplechase.

He was part of the 2011 World Championships team in Daegu, South Korea finishing 10th and the 2012 Olympic Games where he reached the semifinals.

He won a bronze medal at the Africa Championships in Porto Novo in Benin in 2012.

Kiplagat’s mother broke into tears in Court on Monday, stating that life had become difficult since his son’s death.

70-year-old Elizabeth Chemweno wondered why the two suspects who have since been sentenced were still alive.

"Judge, you mean these people are still alive and they killed my son? You mean they are here, and I am suffering because of what they did to my son,” she paused.

“My son was everything to my family, and we are now suffering a lot. These people should not be alive at all," she added.