This archive report was first published on 14 October 2021.
On October 13, 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta expressed his condolences to the family and friends of Olympic athlete Agnes Tirop, who was found dead in her home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Agnes Tirop, 25, was a rising star in the Kenyan athletics scene, having won a bronze medal at the 2019 World 5000m championships and a senior Cross Country title in 2015. She also represented Kenya at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she finished fourth in the 5,000m race.
In a message of condolence, President Kenyatta described Agnes as a 'Kenyan hero' who had brought the country glory through her athletic achievements. He also condemned her killing as a 'criminal act' and directed the police to hasten the search and apprehension of her killers.
'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,' the President said.
President Kenyatta, who was out of the country on an official visit to the US at the time, prayed for God's grace and calm for Agnes's family, friends, relatives, and supporters as they come to terms with her shocking death.
