President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for a speedy probe into the death of Olympian Agnes Jebet Tirop, 25, whose body was found in her house in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County on Wednesday.

Uhuru joined Kenya's athletics family in mourning Tirop who was part of Kenya’s team to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this year and took part in the 5,000m race and finished 4th in the final.

He condoled with the family, friends, kin and athletics fraternity, mourning Tirop as a Kenyan hero and champion whose death is a big blow to Kenya’s sporting ambitions and profile.

"It is unsettling, utterly unfortunate and very sad that we've lost a young and promising athlete who, at a young age of 25 years, she had brought our country so much glory through her exploits on the global athletics stage including in this year's 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she was part of the Kenyan team in Japan," the President eulogised.

He added, "It is even more painful that Agnes, a Kenyan hero by all measures, painfully lost her young life through a criminal act perpetuated by selfish and cowardly people."

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He ordered police to hasten the search and apprehension of the athlete's killers.

"I urge our law enforcement agencies led by the National Police Service to track down and apprehend the criminals responsible for the killing of Agnes so that they can face the full force of the law," Uhuru ordered.

The lifeless body of the 2019 World 5000m bronze medalist and 2015 senior Cross Country champion was discovered in her Iten house with visible stab wounds in the abdomen.

The Head of State, who is on an official visit of the US, prayed for God's grace and calm for Tirop’s family, friends, relatives and supporters as they come to terms with her shocking death.