Athlete says ex-boyfriend ‘shattered her career’ by shooting her leg
An amateur athlete has narrated to an Eldoret court how she has been living with an abusive boyfriend who subjected her to Gender Based Violence (GBV)
Charity Kiplagat broke down in tears at the Eldoret Court as she recounted how her dream of competing on the track and studying in America after she secured a full education scholarship was shattered by her ex-boyfriend.
Ms Kiplagat told the packed court that she survived death by a whisker in the hands of her former boyfriend, namely David Kwambai, a former Kenya Forest Service (KWS) Ranger.
She recalled, on a certain day, how he stormed her home while armed with a gun belonging to KFS and fired at her with only one bullet causing severe injuries on her left leg on the fateful day.
The marathoner said she sustained permanent bullet injuries that forced the college to cancel her scholarship programme at the United States of America-based college where she was preparing to fly out before the tragic incident occurred.
Kiplagat told Presiding Judge Reuben Nyakundi that the tragic incident shattered her dream of ever taking part in any athletics event 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 my career in a Nursing course and also continue with my passion of running, but now my dream cannot be realized due to the tragic incident,” said Kiplagat.
Kiplagat said that she had ended her relationship with the accused person three years before he stormed her family home and fired one bullet at her leaving her for the dead.
“ I was rushed to Eldoret Hospital where the medics recommended that I be admitted for five days due to the severe bullet that I had sustained in the hands of my former lover,” she said.
She said that she incurred a medical bill amounting to more than sh245,000 adding that she was still undergoing medical checkups even after being discharged from the private health facility.
Kiplagat who is represented by Mwani Mukabane was testifying in a case where her ex-boyfriend David Kwambai is accused of an attempted murder against her.
Kwambai who is out on bond has denied committing the said offence on November 28, 2021, at Strawburg/Kapsengerut village in Ainabkoi sub-county, Uasin Gishu County.
The State Counsel has lined up 10 witnesses among them two investigating officers and family members of the complainant.
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