The Eldoret High Court has sentenced David Ekai Lokere and Peter Ushuru Khalumi to 35 years in prison for the murder of Edward Benjamin Kiplagat, a distinguished Kenyan athlete renowned for his exceptional talent in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
Justice Reuben Nyakundi presided over the case, which involved compelling evidence, including CCTV footage that implicated the two in Kiplagat’s brutal stabbing on December 31, 2023, at Kimumu Estate in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County.
Kiplagat, who was found lifeless in a vehicle on the day of the incident, had been a source of pride for the nation and a beacon of hope for aspiring runners.
His passing left a deep void in the athletics community and provided little solace to his grieving family. The swift arrest of Lokere and Khalumi, one of whom was found in possession of the suspected murder weapon, has brought some closure to a tragic chapter in the athlete’s legacy.
Kiplagat began his illustrious career at the 2006 World Cross Country Championships. He set multiple national records, including a remarkable 8:03.81 in 2010.
