Three arrested over murder of Eldoret marathon champion

Police in Eldoret are holding three suspects in connection with the murder of Richard Tirop Kessio – a road running specialist – who was murdered alongside his friend on January 25, 2018.

According to Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Abdi Hassan, the three are believed to be ringleaders of a gang that has been terrorizing residents of Eldoret for the last one month.

Abdi said police have crucial leads that will enable them arrest more suspects.

Tirop won the Barbados Marathon in USA in the years 2010 – 2011, the half Marathon in 2012, 2013 and in 2014 and the 10 KM race in 2011.

The body of Tirop and that of his friend, Mathew Kimutai Kemboi, a former student at Rift Valley Technical Training Institute, were found at Kipkorgot area on the outskirts of Eldoret town. The bodies had deep multiple injuries.

The two were said to have been headed home before they were accosted and murdered by unknown assailants.

The athlete once named as one of the “2014 Masters Long Distance Runners” by Running Times was predominantly based in the USA before returning to Kipkorgot in 2015.

After the incident, Athletics Kenya president Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei said he was deeply saddened by the news and urged swift investigations into the incident.