Two murder suspects deny killing Kenyan-born Ugandan athlete

Two men among them a boda boda rider suspected to have killed an international athlete, told the trial Judge Reuben Nyakundi that they were not at the scene of the murder incident as alleged by their accusers.

Peter Ushuru 30 and the rider David Ekai 25,  who have been in Eldoret GK remand prison since their arrest by the police in December last year told the Eldoret High Court Judge in their defence that they were victims of circumstances in the murder case facing them.

Ushuru said he was in a night club in Eldoret town on the night the Kenyan born Ugandan runner Edward Kiplagat was killed while heading to his house in Kimumu estate along the Eldoret-Iten highway. “I was enjoying my good time at a night club in Eldoret town on the night the said athlete was waylaid and killed by some people whom I do not know,” he told court.

He recounted how a team of police officers in civilian clothes broke into his house while he was asleep and ordered him to hand over his mobile phone and disclose the M-pesa pin number. “One of the officers hit me on the head with a blunt object as he called me a murderer as his colleagues watched and then he ordered me to put on  my clothes,” stated Ushuru.

The two accused persons have been on trial over the killing of the athlete in an incident that occurred on the night of December 30 at Kimumu estate in Moiben Sub County, Uasin Gishu county.

The 2008 World Junior and 3,000 metres steeplechase silver medallist was murdered while on his way home on the eve of New Year.

The accused persons are represented by Mathai Maina and George Songule while the prosecution is led by Mark Mugun.

In his defense, the boda boda rider told the court that he was on normal night chores ferrying customers to various destinations at a fee within and outside Eldoret town.

Ekai shocked the court when he claimed that he was a victim of robbery on the material night that he is said to be at the scene where the international runner was found murdered. “I met a customer in Eldoret town who asked if I could ferry him to Kimumu estate and I agreed on condition that he pays me Sh300 for the journey to his house,” narrated Ekai.

Ekai told the judge as he was riding the motorbike towards the road leading to the said estate; his customer turned against him while brandishing a knife and ordered him to stop. “I obliged and surrendered my motorbike to him for fear of being harmed by the stranger whom I had never met or known. He then took off with my motorbike and left me stranded,” he said.

Defence team

Ekai said that he was forced to board another motorbike to his house in Langas estate adding that a few minutes later in the night, he was accosted while sleeping in his house by people who claimed to be police officers.  He was taken to Ainabtich police station alongside his co-accused where they spent the night before being arraigned in court over the killing of the runner.

The prosecution and defence team told the Judge that they have closed their case.

Justice Nyakundi directed the prosecution and defence team to submit their written submissions before him on September 24 pending further directions.