Two suspects arrested in connection with the suspected gruesome murder of the 34 years old athlete Benjamin Kiplagat are set to face murder charges today before the Eldoret High Court.
Preliminary police findings show that the two suspects were captured on CCTV on the fateful night.
A knife suspected of being used in Kiplagat’s murder was found on one of the suspects, Moiben Sub County Police Commander Stephen Okal said.
However, so far, the motive for the killing is not yet clear but police suspect it was robbery.
Unknown amount of money and a cell phone were stolen from Kiplagat.
Police findings show Kiplagat’s throat was slit.
He was found dead in his brother’s car early Sunday on the outskirts of Eldoret, a high-altitude town in western Kenya renowned as a training base for elite athletes.
Kiplagat competed in three Olympic games and six world championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He won a bronze medal at the 2012 African championships.
Kiplagat is the fourth athlete to be killed in the area in recent years.
Two-time cross country world champion Agnes Tirop was fatally stabbed in her home in the nearby town of Iten in 2021and her husband is on trial charged with murder.
Kenyan-born Bahrain runner Damaris Muthee’s decomposing body was found at a male Ethiopian athlete’s house in 2022. The athlete is the main suspect in her death but has not been apprehended.