Two men have been sentenced to 35 years in prison for the brutal murder of Edward Benjamin Kiplagat, a Kenyan-born Ugandan athlete.
Eldoret High Court Judge Reuben Nyakundi delivered the sentence, referencing clear evidence, including CCTV footage, that implicated David Ekai Lokere (25) and Peter Ushuru Khalumi (30) in Kiplagat's fatal stabbing on December 31, 2023, at Kimumu Estate in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County.
Although the judge acknowledged that Lokere and Khalumi had no previous criminal records, he emphasized the prosecution's compelling evidence in proving their direct involvement in Kiplagat's death.
Despite the victim's family, led by Kiplagat's mother, Elizabeth Chemweno, appealing for a life sentence, the judge concluded that a 35-year term was fitting for the circumstances of the case.
Lokere and Khalumi have been granted a 14-day window to appeal their conviction. In the meantime, Kiplagat's family, represented by his brother Vincent Chemweno, expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, feeling it served justice for their loved one.
The ruling brings the family a measure of closure after a year of grieving the athlete's tragic loss.
