Kenya’s celebrated former middle-distance runner and retired academic, Prof. Mike Kipsugut Boit, has detailed before an Eldoret court how he lost Ksh 1.4 million to his trusted driver through an elaborate mobile and bank fraud scheme.
Testifying before Eldoret Chief Magistrate Dennis Mikoyan, the 76-year-old former Professor of Exercise and Sports Science at Kenyatta University recounted how his driver, Kevin Kipruto Lagat, allegedly gained access to his M-Pesa PIN and later siphoned funds from multiple bank accounts in Kapsabet and Eldoret.
According to Prof. Boit, he had trusted Lagat enough to let him assist with phone-based transactions. However, the driver reportedly used this access to secretly collect sensitive details and waited for the right opportunity to withdraw money without authorization.
Boit told the court that he reported the incident to Naiberi Police Station in Ainabkoi Sub-County, where he recorded a statement. He explained that Lagat was hired on a temporary basis to drive him from Nandi Hills to Nairobi, and was paid daily for his services.
In a shocking revelation, Boit said the accused used a mobile phone number belonging to a person who died 15 years ago to carry out the fraudulent transfers.
Court documents indicate that Lagat is accused of unlawfully transferring Ksh 550,304 from Boit’s KCB account, and an additional Ksh 480,000 from his KCB Nandi Hills branch account, in collusion with unidentified accomplices.
The alleged crimes took place between December 23, 2023, and January 27, 2025, within Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County.
Lagat, represented by Lawyer Tecla Tum, denied the charges. The court adjourned the hearing to January 26, 2026, for further proceedings.
