An Eldoret court has directed that the two people among them a boda boda operator suspected of killing a Kenyan-born Ugandan runner Benjamin Kiplagat be subjected to mental assessment before taking a plea for murder.

Deputy High Court Registrar Rosemary Onkoba ordered the suspects: David Ekai alias Timo, 25, and Peter Khalumi 30 (pictured), to be escorted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for mental assessment to establish whether they are mentally fit. 

“The suspects should be escorted by the police to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for mental assessment to establish whether they are fit to undergo trial,” directed Onkoba.

She further directed that the two be held at Eldoret GK remand prison pending their appearance before the duty Judge on January 31, 2024, where they are set to be charged with murder.

The suspects were arrested in connection with the gruesome murder of the athlete who was found fatally stabbed in his car in Kimumu estate along Eldoret-Iten highway in Uasin Gishu county on the eve of New Year.

At the scene of the crime, officers recovered a knife suspected to have been used in the killing of the 34-year-old runner from one of the suspects with police indicating that the motive of the incident appeared to have been robbery. 

The suspects are said to have stolen money and cell phone from the deceased during the tragic incident. The slain runner who hails from Elgeyo Marakwet ounty is the fourth athlete to be murdered in the area.

Two-time cross-country World champion Agnes Tirop was killed in her Iten townhouse three years ago. Her estranged husband Ibrahim Rotich is the main suspect in the murder.

Rotich who is out on a Sh400,000 cash bail has denied a murder charge in connection with her brutal killing before Justice Robert Wanada of Eldoret High Court.

A Kenyan-born-Bahrain athlete Damaris Muthee’s decomposing body was found at her male Ethiopian runner’s house two years ago.

The Ethiopian runner who is the main suspect in Muthee’s killing has since fled the country to evade justice. 

Last month, August, another runner from Rwanda, Rubayit Siragi was killed in Iten town in what the police believe was a fight with another Kenyan runner over a woman. The suspect has since appeared in court and denied the murder charge.

CS Mvurya has in the past said the main aim of organizing them into cooperatives was informed by the desire of the state to enable the artisanal miners access training, equipment and financial services.

In the reforms, the Government has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia in building a centralized mineral testing laboratory in the country. Currently, testing of all minerals is being undertaken abroad.

It was also declared that 20 percent royalty from the minerals will be shared with respective county governments.

The Government has already approved Sh2 billion in the budget for 2023/2024 for counties to receive their rightful share.

It was also noted that 10 percent of revenue from the minerals will go to the respective communities as part of public participation. By Wycliffe Kipsang, People Daily