The mysterious death of Clement Kimutai Kemboi: the Kenyan middle-distance runner found hanging from a tree

A new mysterious death shakes Kenyan athletics and in particular middle distance running. And the deaths and tragedies continue to occur around the towns of Food in EldoretRift Valley, the paradise of long-distance running: a chain of blood that now reaches up to Clement Kimutai Kemboi. The class of 1992 was found hanging from a tree, as reported by the Daily Nation, a Nairobi newspaper.

Kemboi’s body was found on the farm of St. Patrick’s High School in Koisungur village, Iten. Kemboi had been untraceable for about four days. In his career, the 32-year-old middle distance runner had won the gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2015 African Games and set his personal best in 8’10”65 during the Doha stage of the 2016 Diamond League. On the causes of death and on The police are now investigating Kemboi’s personal story.

Eldoret, Iten and those mysterious deaths

At the beginning of September Rebecca Cheptegeiamong the protagonists of the 2024 Paris Olympics (where she finished 44th in the marathon), had died in a Kenyan hospital after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend. The man had taken action while Rebecca was in church with her children, secretly entering the athlete’s home in Trans-Nzoia county, taking with him a can of petrol.

It was February 10, 2024: on a road between the cities of Eldoret and Kaptagat, the 24-year-old world record holder in the marathon lost his life in a road accident. Kelvin Kiptum (2h00:35 in Chicago in October 2023) and his coach Gervais Hakizimana. A crash which remains an aura of mystery with even the hypothesis of sabotage. Kiptum’s father explained that the evening before the accident he had received a visit to his home from four people who claimed sums of money owed by his son. All then identified by the police, interrogated and released after a day.

On New Year’s Eve 2023, Ugandan Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead. In his curriculum three editions of the Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016) in the 3000 meter steeplechase discipline, without winning medals. The body was found in his car in Eldoret, pierced by several stab wounds. The motive for the murder was probably robbery. Two people arrested. On April 16, 2022, the Kenyan was found dead at home in circumstances yet to be clarified Damaris Muthee Mutua: The 28-year-old girl was suffocated at home in Iten with a pillow.

Six months earlier, 13 October 2021, another feminicide in Iten: the Kenyan champion Agnes Tiropbronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the world championships in London 2017 and Doha 2019 and fourth in the 5,000 meters at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, was killed inside her home with several stab wounds to the abdomen. On 8 February 2008, he lost his life on the road to Eldoret Stephen Arusei KipkorirKenyan middle-distance runner and winner of the bronze medal in the 1500 meters at the 1996 Atlanta Games. After his brief athletic career, he had become a professional soldier: the tragedy occurred following a crash on board a military vehicle. In the Nyandarua district, in 2011 the tragedy of Samuel WanjiruOlympic gold medalist of the 2008 Beijing marathon, fell from the balcony of his house: a story that has never been clarified.