Police in Eldoret are investigating the murder of marathon athlete
Samson Kandie, who was killed by unknown assailants at his home in Eldoret,
Uasin Gishu County.
Uasin Gishu police commander Benjamin Mwanthi says the runner was hacked
to death within his compound at the high-end Elgon View Estate
“He was attacked by people who appear to have been waiting for him
at the home and we are investigating the incident,” said Mwanthi.
He said the assailants fled with his phone but nothing else was stolen
from the runner during the Thursday night incident that left shock and panic
within the area.
”We are looking for the suspects involved so that we bring them to
book," said Mwanthi
The 53-year-old athlete, celebrated for his victories in the 2002
Sapporo and 2004 Vienna marathons, was found severely beaten and police said
his hands and legs had been tied up.
Kandie, a retired and low-profile runner had not reported any
threats to his life.
His daughter, Vienna Kandie said her father had called saying he
was on his way home but did not arrive.
“My mother called him and he said he was on his way home at about
7.30 pm but we waited and he never arrived,” said Vienna.
Later, a stranger called told the wife to look for Kandie behind
the toilet where the body was found.
He was found in critical condition and died on arrival at a
hospital in the city.
The late Kandie was a podium finisher in the 1999 Berlin Marathon
where he set his personal best time of 2:08:31.
Athletes in the region led by Ezekiel Kemboi have expressed shock
at the killing of Kandie and asked the government to look into ways of
enhancing security for runners.
Kemboi said the region had lost so many athletes in the recent
past yet no action had been taken to protect the runners.