A Kenyan court has sentenced Peter Ushuru Khalumi and David Ekai Lokere to 35 years in prison each for the murder of Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat. The Olympic steeplechase runner was fatally stabbed on New Year’s Eve in Eldoret, a renowned athletic training hub.
Justice Reuben Nyakundi, presiding at Eldoret High Court, condemned their actions as “cruel” and targeted against “a defenseless person.” He highlighted CCTV footage that showed Khalumi and Lokere pursuing Kiplagat in his car and attacking him in what appeared to be a premeditated act.
Kiplagat’s tragic death stirred public outrage, especially in Kenya, where a series of recent murders involving top athletes has raised concerns. During the sentencing, Kiplagat’s mother emotionally addressed the court, urging a life sentence and recounting her son’s hard-won achievements as a professional athlete. Known for beginning his athletic career running barefoot, Kiplagat rose to become an international competitor and family provider, his mother told Netbuzz Africa.
The court ultimately handed down the 35-year sentences rather than life terms, but Kiplagat’s family expressed satisfaction with the ruling, acknowledging that justice had been served.
Kiplagat, 34, competed in the 3,000m steeplechase final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and represented Uganda in the following two Games, holding the national record for the event.
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