Two murder suspects sentenced to 35 years in Prison

The Eldoret High Court has sentenced Peter Ushuru and David Ekai to 35 years in prison for the murder of steeplechase runner, Benjamin Kiplagat on December 31st 2023 in Kimumu Estate, Eldoret Uasin Gishu County.

Ushuru aged 30 years and motorcycle rider Ekai aged 25 years were sentenced for 35 years each for the gruesome murder of Kipagat by the Eldoret high court judge, Justice Reuben Nyakundi.

While making his judgment, Nyakundi said that the duo planned and executed the murder of Kiplagat in cold blood.

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The family of the deceased had demanded that the accused be sentenced to death or life imprisonment but Justice Nyakundi said no amount of sentence would bring back the life of the deceased.

The 70-year-old Elizabeth Chemweno, the mother of the deceased had caused a commotion at the court as she asked the judge to pass the death sentence against his killers.

“I hope that the family will find solace in the decision of the court and take courage to move on,” said Nyakundi.

Kiplagat’s mother cried out in court and wondered why the two convicts were still alive.

“Judge, you mean these people are still alive and they killed my son? You mean they are here and I am suffering because of what they did to my son”, said Elizabeth

Ushuru and Ekai had denied the offence and claimed to have been framed by the prosecution but Justice Nyakundi termed their evidence as “mere stories” to try and free themselves from the act.

Nyakundi while sentencing the two noted that Kiplagat died because of the actions of the two and that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the two were at the scene of crime with the motorcycle they used during the incident.