Former MP and marathon winner Elijah Lagat is dead
Former Emgwen and Chesumei Member of Parliament (MP), and celebrated marathon champion, Elijah Lagat has died.
Former Emgwen and Chesumei Member of Parliament (MP), and celebrated marathon champion, Elijah Lagat has died.
According to reports, Lagat took his final bow on Tuesday morning, September 30, at a hospital in Eldoret where he had been receiving treatment.
Leaders from across the country have paid tribute to him, describing his life as one of dedication, humility, and service both on and off the track.
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang was among the first to send a message of condolence, recalling Lagat’s service to his people and the nation.
“It is with deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss that we have learned of the passing of Hon. Elijah Lagat, former Member of Parliament for Chesumei Constituency and a celebrated national hero.
“Hon. Lagat was a distinguished leader whose legacy will be remembered not only in the halls of Parliament, but also in the hearts of the people he served with dedication and humility. As a legislator, he was deeply committed to dialogue and inclusivity. He led with wisdom, always engaging in wide consultation to ensure that the voices of his constituents were heard, respected and represented,” he said.
Sang sent his message of ondolences to Lagat’s family and friends as well as the people of Chesumei constituency.
“On my behalf and the people of Nandi County, I extend our deepest message of condolences to his family, friends, the people of Chesumei and all Kenyans who mourn this great loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he added.
Lagat’s athletics journey began in 1993. Concerned about his health after a doctor’s warning, he took up running to lose weight.
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By 1997, he had already risen to international prominence, winning the Berlin Marathon in an impressive 2:07:41, which became his personal best.
The following year, Lagat won the Prague Marathon, cementing his status as a top marathoner.
His biggest win came in 2000 at the Boston Marathon, where he claimed victory in what became the closest finish in the race’s history, edging out Ethiopia’s Gezahegne Abera with both men recording the same finishing time.
Later that year, Lagat represented Kenya at the Sydney Olympics, though he did not finish the marathon event.
However, as the years progressed, his performances declined, and he gradually stepped back from elite competition.
After athletics, Lagat transitioned into politics. His first attempt came in 2002 when he vied for the Emgwen Constituency parliamentary seat on a KANU ticket, but he lost to Stephen Tarus of NARC.
He remained undeterred, and in the 2007 General Election he returned on an ODM ticket and unseated Tarus, earning a place in Parliament.
Following the creation of Chesumei Constituency ahead of the 2013 elections, Lagat successfully contested and became its Member of Parliament.
He served in that capacity until 2017, when he lost the seat to Alex Kosgey.
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