President Uhuru Orders the Arrest of Olympian Agnes Tirop's Killers

President Kenyatta has condoled with the family of Olympian Agnes Jebet Tirop.

The 25-year-old long-distance athlete was discovered dead in her home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County on Wednesday.

Agnes, who represented Kenya in the 5,000m race at the Tokyo Olympics two months ago, had stab wounds in the abdomen.

In a message of condolence and comfort to the family, Kenyatta eulogized Agnes as a Kenyan hero and champion whose death is a big blow to the country's sporting ambitions and profile.

"It is unsettling, utterly unfortunate and very sad that we've lost a young and promising athlete who, at a young age of 25 years, she had brought our country so much glory through her exploits on the global athletics stage including in this year's 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she was part of the Kenyan team in Japan," the President said.

"It is even more painful that Agnes, a Kenyan hero by all measures, painfully lost her young life through a criminal act perpetuated by selfish and cowardly people." 

The president directed the police to hasten the search and arrest of those behind her gruesome murder.

"I urge our law enforcement agencies led by the National Police Service to track down and apprehend the criminals responsible for the killing of Agnes so that they can face the full force of the law," Kenyatta directed.

The 2019 World 5000m bronze medalist and 2015 senior Cross Country champion was set to celebrate her 26th birthday on October 23rd.

Last month, Tirop set the world record for a women's only 10km road race in Germany, slashing 28 seconds from the 19-year-old record after clocking a staggering 30:01.

At the 2020 Olympic Games in August, Tirop finished fourth in the women’s 3,000m final.

She also won 10,000m bronze medals at both the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.