Kenyan police announced on Monday the arrest of two suspects in the investigation into the murder of Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat last week.
The two men, both believed to be in their thirties, were arrested near the town of Eldoret in the Rift Valley where Kiplagat’s body was found in a car on Saturday, the same source said.
“The two suspects are known criminals who terrorized the population,” said local police chief Stephen Okal. “The investigation is at an advanced stage and we could present them in court tomorrow” Tuesday.
Kiplagat, born in Kenya and aged 34, had represented Uganda in the 3,000 meters steeplechase at several editions of the Olympic Games and world championships.
His body was discovered inside a car near Eldoret. This Rift Valley city sees many specialist long-distance and middle-distance athletes come to train to take advantage of the altitude.
His body had a wound on his neck but the motives for the murder are still unknown. According to the first elements of the investigation, Kiplagat was the victim of an ambush set by the two suspects before hitting their motorcycle with his car.
“This undoubtedly provoked their violent reaction,” Mr. Okal told AFP, adding that one of the suspects was arrested with a knife which could have been used during the attack.
During his career which spanned 18 years, Kiplagat shone in the youth categories, notably winning the silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the junior world championships in 2008.
A bronze medalist at the 2012 African Championships, he reached the semi-finals at the 2012 London Olympics and also took part in the Rio Games four years later.
Before him, Kenyan long-distance star Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death in October 2021 at the age of 25 at her home in Iten, a training center near Eldoret. Her husband had been arrested and charged with murder.
