Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shocking and tragic stabbing to death of Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat over the weekend, police disclosed on Monday.

The apprehended individuals, believed to be in their thirties, were taken into custody on the outskirts of Eldoret town in Uasin Gishu County, according to local police commander Stephen Okal.

"The two suspects are known criminals who have been terrorizing members of the public," Okal disclosed.

This significant development in the investigation, he noted, marks an advanced stage in the ongoing efforts.

"We are in the advanced stage of the investigations, and we will possibly be sending them to court tomorrow," Okal added.

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Hailing from Kenya, Kiplagat had represented Uganda on the international stage in the 3,000m steeplechase, showcasing his talent at numerous Olympic Games and World Championships.

The 34-year-old athlete's life came to a tragic end when his body was discovered in a pickup truck on Saturday night, bearing a deep knife wound to his neck.

Despite an undisclosed motive behind the killing, authorities revealed that their investigations unveiled that Kiplagat had been "waylaid" by the two suspects after colliding with their motorcycle.

"This probably provoked them into that violent act," referring to the stabbing," Okal explained.

Notably, one of the suspects was apprehended with a knife believed to have been used in the fatal assault.

A CCTV footage has since emerged online showing two individuals believed to be the two suspects and what could have been the athletes final moments before the tragedy.



Eldoret, renowned as a hub for athletes undergoing training in the high-altitude region, serves as the backdrop to this distressing incident.

Kiplagat, whose athletic career spanned approximately 18 years, achieved notable milestones, including a silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2008 World Junior Championships and a bronze at the Africa Championships in 2012.

His journey also included reaching the semi-finals at the 2012 Olympics in London and participating in Rio in 2016.

This tragic incident follows the October 2021 killing of Kenyan distance running star Agnes Tirop, who was found stabbed to death at the age of 25 in her Iten home, a training hub near Eldoret.