The High Court in Eldoret has sentenced Peter Ushuru and David Ekai to 35 years imprisonment for the murder of Benjamin Kiplagat, a prominent 3,000m steeplechase athlete.
Presiding Justice Reuben Nyakundi based the conviction on compelling scientific and circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage that definitively placed the defendants at the crime scene. The fatal incident unfolded in Kimumu Estate, Eldoret, on New Year’s Eve 2023, when Kiplagat was attacked while driving home. His body was discovered the following morning bearing knife wounds to the neck. The prosecution’s case was strengthened by the testimony of nine witnesses, though both Ushuru and Ekai maintained their innocence, claiming they had been framed.
During an emotionally charged pre-sentencing hearing, Kiplagat’s mother Elizabeth Chemweno delivered a poignant plea for the death penalty. She described the devastating impact of losing her son, who had been the family’s primary provider. Her sentiments were echoed by Kiplagat’s brothers, Vincent Kibet and David Changwonyi, who urged the court to impose the maximum possible sentence. While acknowledging the family’s profound grief, Justice Nyakundi emphasized that no punishment could restore their loss. Nevertheless, he determined that the heinous nature of the crime warranted severe consequences, despite the defendants’ status as first-time offenders.
The judge dismissed their claims of innocence as fabrications designed to evade responsibility. The athletic community has become increasingly vulnerable to criminal targeting, particularly those who have achieved notable success. Kiplagat’s family has advocated for governmental intervention to implement more robust security protocols for athlete protection. The successful prosecution results from effective collaboration between the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
