Elijah Lagat, former Chesumei and Emgwen Member of Parliament and 2000 Boston Marathon champion, has passed away at the age of 60.
Lagat died on Monday night at Eldoret Hospital in Uasin Gishu County after a short illness.
A man of many talents, Lagat had a remarkable career in both athletics and public service. Internationally, he was best known for his triumph at the 2000 Boston Marathon and for representing Kenya in major global athletics competitions.
In politics, Lagat served with distinction in Parliament, holding several leadership positions.
These included Vice Chairperson of the Labour and Social Welfare Committee, Chair of the Sports Sub-committee, Vice Chair of the Catering and Health Services Committee, and Chair of the Health Services Sub-committee.
Lagat participated in Boston Marathon in 2000.
He also served as the Deputy Human Resources Manager in Nandi County for five years and, until his death, was a board member of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang paid tribute to Lagat, describing him as a leader whose legacy in both sports and public service will be remembered for generations.
