With many recent cases of death on Kenyan athletes, athletics community is now reeling from a double tragedy following the deaths of former 2016 World U20 800m champion Kipyegon Bett and middle-distance runner Clement Kemboi on that occured Monday 7th October.
Bett passed away at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet County after battling illness, while Kemboi was found dead in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, in what appears to be a suspected suicide.
Elgeyo Marakwet Police Commander Peter Mulinge confirmed that Kemboi’s body was discovered hanging from a tree at the St. Patrick’s High School Farm in Koisungur village. The news of his death came just hours after Bett’s passing, deepening the sense of grief within the athletics fraternity.
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According to Bett’s sister Purity Kirui, Bett who had been receiving treatment at Tenwek Hospital since Monday, succumbed on Sunday after his condition worsened.
“He has been unwell for about a month and had been treated at AIC Litein Hospital as an outpatient. On Saturday, his condition deteriorated and was referred to Tenwek for further tests,” said Purity.
Bett, who also claimed bronze at the 2017 World Championships in the 800m, had been suffering from internal bleeding, reportedly vomiting blood due to organ damage, according to Nation. Despite being admitted earlier in the week, he was discharged before his condition worsened and required readmission.
In addition to his World U20 and World Championship successes, Bett also secured silver in the 4x800m relay at the 2017 World Relay Championships. However, his promising career was abruptly halted in 2018 after he was handed a four-year ban for using the performance-enhancing drug Erythropoietin (EPO). His final race was in 2022 at the third Athletics Kenya track and field meeting, where he finished third in the 400m.
Kemboi, known for his achievements in the 3000m steeplechase, was a highly regarded athlete who rose to prominence after winning gold at the 2015 All-Africa Games in Brazzaville. He further cemented his place as one of Kenya’s elite athletes by setting a personal best of 8:10.65 at the Doha Diamond League in 2016.
The deaths of both Bett and Kemboi have left the Kenyan athletics community devastated, as the nation mourns the loss of two athletes whose contributions to the sport had brought pride and recognition on the global stage.
