It was a sober mood at the Kamendi village, Cherangeny in Trans Nzoia county during the burial of the slain athlete Benjamin Kiplagat.
Kiplagat, who was murdered on the December 31st in Eldoret’s Kimumu Estate, was laid to rest
Top athletes like Eliud Kipchoge eulogysed the athlete as a hard working runner conquering the world of steeplechase and other events.
The same was said by multiple world 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi said that he used to train together with Kiplagat in Kapcherop in Elgeyo Marakwet county under coach Boniface Tiren before moving to Uganda.
Ugandan delegation led by AUF Vice president Benjamin Njia, with the message from the federation said that the first time he was in the country, he had come to bury the late Agnes Tirop, who was murdered just like Kiplagat was.
Peter Chelangat mourned that Kiplagat was a great friend to all Ugandans but his death will not go unnoticed.
“Kiplagat was a great athlete and we want his greatness to live for many years. He has gone too soon but his life will thrive through his offspring. As a community, we have lost a friend. His death should bring us together,” he said.
We are going to miss him. And we want to get another Kiplagat from Kenya.
Let’s not allow these small boundaries to divide us,” he said.
The same was echoed by Cheptegei saying that every stakeholder was concerned because he’s a hero back in Uganda.