Former Chesumei Member of Parliament Elijah Lagat has passed away aged 60.
Lagat's death was confirmed on Tuesday, September 30, with preliminary reports indicating the former lawmaker lost a battle after a short illness.
Before his death, Lagat was a member of the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Authority (NACADA) Board.
Nandi Governor confirmed Lagat's death, as he mourned the former MP as a distinguished leader who served with humility.
"It is with deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss that we have learned of the passing of Elijah Lagat, former Member of Parliament for Chesumei Constituency and a celebrated national hero," a statement from Sang read.
"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."
The former lawmaker took his first stab at a parliamentary seat in 2002, but lost the Emgwen Constituency seat to Stephen K. Tarus.
Five years later, Lagat regrouped and won the Emgwen seat in 2007 on an ODM ticket, marking his first stint as a lawmaker.
When Egwen constituency was divided into two, it gave birth to Chesumei Constituency, which Lagat contested for in 2013 and won, becoming the first elected MP in the newly formed constituency. One interesting aspect of his election was that he achieved it under the Jubilee Party.
Before venturing into politics, Lagat worked as an educational administrator for the Ministry of Education, before taking a unique stab at athletics, where he first became a household name.
Lagat's journey to athletics was rather unconventional, as he began running professionally quite late in life after doctors initially advised against it because of his physical condition.
One of his most remarkable achievements as an athlete was when he won the Boston Marathon in 2000, clocking an impressive time of 2:07:41.
Prior to his Boston Marathon heroics, Lagat was also victorious in the 27th edition of the Berlin Marathon, which he won by beating fellow Kenyans Erick Kimaiyo, Sammy Lelei and Jackson Kipngok.
