A 20-year-old athlete’s promising career was tragically cut short after he collapsed and died on Friday, September 27, following a 3,000-metre race at Kipchoge Stadium in Uasin Gishu County.
The athlete, Joseph Hussein Njagi, was competing in a scholarship trial when he collapsed at the finish line around midday. Efforts to save Njagi's life were made immediately, with athletics officials rushing him to Uasin Gishu District Hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Police reports indicate that Njagi had completed the race and appeared to be in distress as he crossed the finish line. As officials and fellow athletes looked on in shock, the urgency of the situation was clear. Medical personnel at the stadium were quick to react, yet despite their efforts, the young runner’s life could not be saved.
Police officers from Eldoret Police Station were notified shortly after the tragic incident. They responded by transferring Njagi's body to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue, where a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the exact cause of his sudden death.
The loss of Njagi has sent shockwaves through Kenya’s tight-knit athletics community. His death mirrors other recent tragedies involving young athletes whose careers were abruptly ended by unforeseen health complications.
Only weeks earlier, in mid-September 2024, Kenyan athlete Willy Chelewa collapsed after securing a sponsorship for international races in China. Chelewa reportedly passed away moments after sipping a cup of black tea, highlighting the sudden nature of such incidents.
The growing number of athlete deaths is raising concerns across the country, with many questioning whether more needs to be done to safeguard the health of Kenya’s up-and-coming sports stars.
For athletes like Njagi, whose participation in trials could be life-changing, the pressure is immense. With the stakes so high, maintaining peak physical condition is paramount, yet some fear that the drive for success may come at a cost.
The Kenya Athletics Federation is yet to release an official statement on Njagi’s death, but the broader athletics community has expressed its condolences and called for thorough investigations into the health risks facing young athletes.
Njagi was among a cohort of young athletes hoping to secure scholarships through outstanding performances at Kipchoge Stadium, which has long been the training ground for some of Kenya’s most renowned runners.
As Kenya awaits the results of the post-mortem, the focus is shifting toward preventative measures that could safeguard the lives of athletes. Calls for improved health screening, on-site medical support, and monitoring for signs of distress during races are growing louder.
