President Uhuru Kenyatta is mourning the death of athlete Agnes Jebet Tirop who was found dead in her house in Iten town.
In his message of comfort to the family, Uhuru termed Tirop as a Kenyan heroine and champion whose death is a big blow to the country's sporting ambitions and profile.
"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 had brought our country so much glory through her exploits on the global athletics stage including in this year's 2020 Tokyo Olympics," he said.
The Head of State prayed for God's grace and calm for her family, friends, supporters, and the athletics fraternity, as they come to terms with the athlete's shocking death.
He called on the National Police Service to track down and apprehend the criminals responsible for Tirop's murder, and bring them to book.
"It is even more painful that Agnes, a Kenyan hero by all measures, painfully lost her young life through a criminal act perpetuated by selfish and cowardly people," Uhuru said.
Tirop, 25, was part of the triumphant team that represented Kenya in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics; where she represented the country in the 5,000m race and finished fourth in the finals.
The 2015 World Cross Country champion was found dead in her house in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County on Wednesday.
Her body had a stab wound on the neck.
Tirop had been living at an athletics camp after differing with her husband but returned to the home two days ago, following reconciliation by relatives and friends.
