Kenyan athletes are the most patriotic people who put and keep Kenya on the world map. With their exemplary performance and dedication, they have bought many medals and awards for our country.
Losing any of them is always a big blow to their family and our country as a whole. Sudden death is always a shock, especially when coupled with suspicious activity like murder hurts the most.
Here is a list of the most promising Kenyan athletes whose deaths shocked the nation.
Agnes Jerop Tirop
Tirop was confirmed dead on October 13, 2021, in her house. Detectives confirmed that her body had several stab wounds.
Jebet won several races right from when she was still a junior her notable win was the 5000m bronze in world championships in 2012 and 2014. In the senior stage, Jebet won the World Cross Country championship and was the second youngest athlete to win gold.
A further autopsy was conducted at the Iten County Referral hospital which revealed she died from her injuries on her neck. She was also hit on the head with a blunt object. Her husband Ibrahim Rotich was arrested in connection with the murder.
Samuel Wanjiru
Wanjiru was the first Kenyan athlete to win the first Olympic marathon Gold in record time in 2008 in Beijing, China.
In October 2009, Wanjiru raked millions and flew Kenya’s flag high when he won both Chicago Marathon and London Marathon.
Wanjiru died in May 2011 after falling from the balcony of his home in Muthaiga estate Nyahururu.
Reports made suggest that Wanjiru was drinking on the night he died. He had company with an unidentified woman at a pub whom he went with home and his wife Triza Njeri found them.
The couple quarreled before she locked Wanjiru and the woman upstairs, leaving them with no way out.
Its reported he dropped from the balcony a few moments later and till now no one knows whether Wanjiru was pushed or jumped.
Hoseah Mwok Macharinyang
Hoseah Mwok Macharinyang is a Kenyan athlete who died on the 9th of October aged 35. Hosea was famed for the 10,000 meters and cross country running. His major win was at the IAAF world cross country championship in 2006 and 2008.
Mwok committed suicide under unclear circumstances and was found hanging from a rope in his cattle shed.
He was suspected to be suffering from mental illness before his death.
Francis Kiplagat
The long-distance athlete Francis Kiplagat died in February 2018 in a car accident in the Kikopey area in Nairobi.
Kiplagat was traveling with 2010 African men’s 5,000m silver medallist Vincent Yator before the incident happened on Monday night.
Kiplagat has nine career victories to his name with personal bests of 14:58 in the 5km, 29:45 (10km), 62:49 half marathon, and a 2:15:57 marathon.
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Conclusion
The loss of these athletes shocked the whole nation as it was a loss of great talent and amazing patriotic citizens.
