T. NashipaeSlain athlete Kiplagat laid to rest in Kitale
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 11.01.24. | 21:07
The burial was attended by renowned top athletes like Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Kipyegon and Joshua Cheptegei,
The 2012 African Championships bronze medalist, Edward Kiplagat, popularly known as Benjamin, was laid to rest on Thursday, 11 January, in Milimani, Cherangany, Trans Nzoia County.
Benjamin, who was born in Kenya but represented Uganda in major competitions, was allegedly murdered in Eldoret’s Kimumu Estate. He was found dead on Sunday, 31, in his car's driver seat with knife stabs on the neck and chest.
The burial was attended by renowned top athletes like Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Kipyegon, Joshua Cheptegei, Uasin Gishu County governor Jonathan Chelilim Bii, and Athletics Uganda Vice President Benjamin Njia, among others.
Speaking to the mourners, the Kenyan athletes led by Kipchoge described the late Benjamin as a hardworking man, calling on the perpetrators of the crime to be brought to justice.
"Kiplagat was a hardworking athlete. We stayed in the same camp for a very long time. We need all the perpetrators of this heinous act to be prosecuted. We have lost many athletes this way," he urged.
His sentiments were echoed by Cheptegei, who urged the authorities to speed up investigations and take measures to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
"Every stakeholder was concerned because he's a hero in our country. Kiplagat was a hero and a mentor because he received me like a brother. The boundaries are colonial, but we are brothers," Cheptegei offered.
According to Athletics Uganda Vice President, the country had lost a significant talent. He urged the government to ensure that the safety and security of athletes come first. Njia also called on athletes to be cautious.
"We have a big delegation from Uganda. We came for the burial of Tirop, and now Kiplagat, and I'm requesting that the Kenyan government provide security where athletes stay and that athletes be careful. We don't want to come to Kenya to bury another athlete," he called on.
The speeches went on, and eventually, Kiplagat was laid to rest. Mourners wept for a young soul gone too soon.
The late Benjamin was a high-flying athlete with a promising future. He won the 2008 World Junior 3,000m steeplechase silver medal in a time of 8:19.24, behind Kenyan Jonathan Ndiku Muia with 8:17.28, and Kenyan Patrick Kipyegon Terer settling for bronze in 8:25.14.
He narrowly missed a podium finish in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi after settling for fourth place in the 3,000m steeplechase.
He was an important member of the 2011 World Championships team in Daegu, South Korea, finishing 10th, and the 2012 Olympic Games, reaching the semifinals.
His success reads like a book, but he also won a bronze medal at the Africa Championships in Porto Novo, Benin, in 2012 before finishing in the heats at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
May his soul rest in peace.
