Benjamin Kiplagat's murder: CCTV footage shows how suspects tracked athlete before killing him (VIDEO)

Kiplagat was murdered on Sunday|IMAGO

Benjamin Kiplagat's murder: CCTV footage shows how suspects tracked athlete before killing him (VIDEO)

Allan Damba 12:32 - 02.01.2024

The camera captured a motorbike rider speeding off from the estate; a minute later, at 1:11 am, a pick-up vehicle approached the exit as the driver appeared to be in a rush.

Ugandan long-distance runner Benjamin Kiplagat was found murdered in Kimumu in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, on Sunday morning.

Kiplagat was stabbed while in the car on the way to his home in Kimumu Estate, having been found with a deep knife cut down his neck.

Benjamin Kiplagat won silver at the at the 2008 World Junior Championships in the 3000 metre steeplechase | Imago

Moiben Sub-county police commandant Stephen Okal revealed on Monday that two suspects had been arrested.

Okal added that the main suspects in the murder of the athlete included a boda boda rider and another unidentified person.

CCTV footage obtained by Citizen Digital shows the two suspects tracking Kiplagat’s car before leaving Kimumu on December 31, 2023, at around 1:10 am (EAT).

The camera captured a motorbike rider speeding off from the estate; a minute later, at 1:11 am, a pick-up vehicle approached the exit as the driver appeared to be in a rush.

At that time, the events remained unclear; a minute later, a white saloon car was seen moving slowly.

Two minutes in, at 1:14 am, the pick-up dashed back to the estate, and a man suspiciously walked towards the direction of the car; another man then followed, and they rushed back towards the exit.

The CCTV footage is what police in Eldoret used to arrest the two suspects accused of involvement in the murder of the late athlete.

Moiben sub-county Police Commander Stephen Okal said one of the suspects was apprehended within Uasin Gishu while the other was arrested in the neighbouring Trans Nzoia County.

"We have the two suspects in custody and they have been positively identified," Okal was quoted by The Star.

The Police Commander further disclosed that the two were wanted criminals who had been tormenting residents of the region for quite some time.

In more revelation, Okal indicated that the motive of the gruesome murder appeared to be a criminal incident and that a mobile phone and money were stolen from the athlete.

"We have cast our net wide as we go on with investigations to arrest anyone else involved," said Okal.

It should be noted that Kiplagat, who represented Uganda, won the 2008 World Junior 3,000m steeplechase silver medal at 8:19.24.

He then represented Uganda in the Rio Olympics Games in 2016 in Brazil.

According to the World Athletics Rankings, he was 38th overall in the Men's 3,000-metre Steeplechase.