A woman broke down in an Eldoret court as she recounted how her dream of running and studying in America after she secured a full scholarship was shattered by her ex-boyfriend four years ago.
Charity Kiplagat told the packed court that she survived death by a whisker in the hands of David Kwambai, a former Kenya Forest Service ranger.
Kwambai, she recalled, stormed her home while armed with a KFS gun and fired at her. The bullet caused severe injuries on her left leg.
The marathoner said she sustained permanent bullet injuries that forced the college to cancel her scholarship.
Kiplagat told Judge Reuben Nyakundi that the attack ended her ability to ever take part in any athletics activity for the rest of her life.
“I had secured a full scholarship from Essex County College in the US where I was set to pursue a nursing course and continue with my passion of running, but now my dream cannot be realised due the tragic incident,” Kiplagat said.
She had ended her relationship with the accused person more than three years before Kwambai stormed her family home and fired one bullet at her, leaving her for dead.
“I was rushed to Eldoret Hospital where the medics recommended that I be admitted for five days due to the severe bullet wound that I had sustained at the hands of my former lover,” she said.
She incurred a medical bill amounting to more than Sh245,000. Kiplagat is still undergoing medical checkups long after she was discharged from the private health facility.
Kiplagat, who is represented by Mwani Mukabane, was testifying in a case where her ex-boyfriend Kwambai is charged with attempted murder.
Kwambai is out on bond after her denied committing the offence on November 28, 2021, at Strasburg/Kapsengerut village in Ainabkoi subcounty, Uasin Gishu county.
The prosecutor has lined up 10 witnesses, among them two investigating officers and Kiplagat's family members.
Justice Nyakundi adjourned hearing of the case to April 23, 2024.